Kids Products

Posted by Jennifer White

I am somewhat surprised that my littlest munchkin in well on her way to using the potty consistently. Other than night time and nap time, she is accident free and loving being out of her diapers. I realize that other than noting her obvious interest and providing her with some support, I cannot take much credit for that. It is all her. She is ready to learn.

I think that one of the biggest ways I can support her in this process is to not hold her back with disposable pull up potty training pants. As I explained in a recent article on cloth potty training pants, disposable pull ups seem to perpetuate accidents rather than teach children (and parents) to be aware of potty learning cues.

I much prefer using cloth training underwear. My favorite padded training pants readily available at common department stores comes from JcPenney. Their Wee Essentials Padded Training Pants, mentioned in the link above, are soft, absorbent, and comfortable.

Other great training pants available at on-line specialty shops are the Imse Vimse Training Pant and Snap-EZ AIO Trainer. Both of these training pants feature a water proof covering. Accidents are a bit easier to clean up, but better for toddlers as there is no doubt they are wet or soiled.

Another potty learning product that might better motivate children is the potty chair. For some kids, the style of the potty is quite irrelevant. For others, a special potty chair might be just what they need to be inspired. A detailed selection of interesting potty chairs is detailed in the article Unique Potty Chairs: Recommendations for Motivating Toilet Training Seats.

Posted by Jennifer White

Recently, Barb Hacker, Suite's Parenting Methods Feature Writer, graced us with an article in Kids' Products entitled Six Uses for a Maya Wrap: Slings as Shopping Cart Seat Belts, Blankets, Changing Pads & More. It is the source of inspiration for this week's blog. I didn't need the muse to sing to me too loudly, as next to my cloth diapers, my Maya Wrap has been my favorite baby item.

Babywearing has exploded on to the parenting scene with tons of claims of how it reduces crying, influences "quiet alert time" which has been related to higher intelligence, promotes emotional and physical development, and aides mothers in the recovery of post partum depression. All of those things are wonderful, but I will be flat at honest. The thing I love the most about my Maya Wrap is that it makes parenting so much easier for me

My second born child had bowels problems and was often in a great deal of pain. It seemed that the only thing that would provide any sort of comfort for her was my Maya Wrap. Meanwhile, I had a 20 month old toddler who still very much needed mommy. My Maya Wrap kept my hands free while I could address the needs of my eldest child. The Maya was nothing short of a miracle for me.

21 months later, my Maya still is used on a regular basis. My now toddler has gone through independent streaks and occassionally has preferred to be out and about, but she still has days where her cherubic face comes to me dragging the sling with her. "Hold me," she says.

I daresay that the Maya was not just my favorite baby item, but hers as well.

Posted by Jennifer White

I thought it would be helpful to my readers to create an index of my car seat related articles and blogs.

Articles

Types of Children's Car Seats: Choose the Restraint System that Suits Your Child and Vehicle Learn about the different types of car seat restraints and what to look for before buying a car seat for your baby or child.

Infant Car Seat Buying Guide: How to Choose a Carrier Car Restraint for a Baby When purchasing a child car restraint, it is important for parents to look for certain features that fit their family's needs.

Best, Safest Children's Car Seat: Increase Your Child's Safety in Vehicles Find out which child's restraint is safest and how to further improve the safety of children's car seats.

Best Infant Car Seats: Recommendations for Car Carrier Restraints for Babies Here are the top picks for infant carriers.

Best Convertible Car Seats: Recommendations for Rear and Forward Facing Restraints for Babies These top rated convertible child passenger car seats were selected based upon safety features and ease of use.

Backless Belt Positioning Boosters: Best Backless Car Booster Seats Backless boosters car seats are only suitable for certain vehicles.

Top Belt Positioning Booster Seats: Best High Back Booster Recommendations for 40 + Pound Children These selections are top picks for safety and installation.

Britax Car Seat Comparison: The Differences of Britax Convertible Child Restraints An indepth comparison of the 5 different models of Britax convertibles

SafeGuard Child Seat: Possibly the Best and Most Expensive Car Seat Parents who want nothing but the best should take a look at the SafeGuard Child Seat.

Blogs

Car Seats & Vehicle Compatibility

Car Seat Safety Videos

Children and Rear-Facing Car Seats

Posted by Jennifer White

I recently stumbled upon another fabulous car seat resource. CarSeatData.org is a great place for parents to learn others' opinions on whether a particular car seat is good in a particular vehicle.

Obviously, parents need to keep in mind that the information provided reflects various individuals opinions on the topic. It does not convey standardized information, but it does give parents more direction in choosing the best car seat for their vehicle.

I sat down and plunked in the make, model, and year of my car and learned what others are saying about which car seats are compatible with that vehicle. It included information on how easily the seat was installed and how well it fit in the vehicle. I could also search by a particular car seat model and discover how it installs in various vehicles too.

After I finished playing around with the database, I contributed my own feedback on the vehicle and car seats that I used. It is nice to know that another parent might benefit from taking a minute out of my day to express my opinion.

The site is not without its limitations, of course. Parents should realize the information is all a reflection of parents and technicians opinions and that official testing of the seats did not occur. But it certainly can give parents a better idea of what seats to choose and to avoid.

For further reading:

Infant Car Seat Buying Guide

Best Infant Car Seats

Posted by Jennifer White

The research I have been doing recently for both my crib bedding articles and for car seat safety certainly has solidified my view points on each. However, it isn't so much the statistics that drove the point home, but the videos and photographs that reinact children's fatalities. I think it's important to circulate these videos among parents, grandparents, and caregivers. I think if disbelieving parents are to be convinced of the importance of following newer car seat guidelines, it will be done not my recounting statistics, but by showing them how car seats function best.

Car seat vs. No Car Seat

I shudder to think that any adult would ever allow a child to ride without a car seat, but sadly I've seen it happen on more than one occassion.

Importance of Staying-Rear Facing

This video is a great presentation of the facts of rear-facing and also contains comparison footage of rear-facing vs. forward-facing. On the second crash test footage, look and you will see a rear-facing child in the same car. The difference is remarkable.

Importance of a 5-Point Harness

Have your tissue box handy for this one folks. Little Kyle David Miller's parents put together this tribute and the story of his death that will rip any parents heart from their chest. My deepest condolences go to the Miller family in their loss, yet I am so thankful that they are using his death to educate other families.

Related articles:

Best, Safest Children's Car Seat

Best Infant Car Seats

Posted by Jennifer White

My 27 pound 20 month old rides rear-facing in her car seat despite the questions we get from people who think we are crazy. I find it ironic the number of people who think that we are being irresponsible by keeping my children rear-facing despite the documented reality of the safety of remaining rear-facing.

Here are some of my responses:

"But doesn't it bother you that you can't see her?"

"Nope. My eyes should be on the road and not the back seat. There has never been a problem, but if there is I'll stop the car."

"But aren't you afraid if you are in an accident that she will break her legs?"

There is absolutely no data to support that. There is data that children are far more likely to be injured or killed when riding forward-facing though."

"But isn't she too big to ride rear-facing?"

"Nope. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back.' She has several pounds and several inches to grow yet. Children in Sweden and other countries stay rear-facing up to age 5 or 55 pounds."

"She'll be happier forward-facing."

"I don't know that. She doesn't know that. She might be happier playing out in the street than in the yard, but I don't let her do that either. She's safer rear-facing. She'll stay rear-facing."

Related articles:

Best, Safest Children's Car Seat

Best Infant Car Seats

Videos of Forward vs. Rear Facing (Scroll down)

Posted by Jennifer White

I will just get straight to the point and say that all the research on crib bedding has cranked my mommy-desires up another level. Which isn't necessarily a good thing, since my womb has already been screaming at me to hold another baby, while my dear husband maintains that I have become certifibly insane.

Now that I have got that out, let me get to the focus of this week's blog. Crib bedding.

The bottom line is that if parents want to have quality bedding that follows voluntary safety guidelines, they really are going to have to scrutinize the products available. Go to the store and do not be shy about opening up the familiar zippered bedding bags. Take a ruler and measure the crib ties, look closely at the stitching, note the softness of the fabrics. Be picky! This is for a new baby and safety and quality should be of top concern. The bedding will be laundered A LOT. It needs to hold up in the wash and safety issues related to infant bedding are a real concern.

As I mentioned last week, with more and more organizations stating that much of crib bedding is not necessary and is potentially dangerous, parents may be wise to invest in several top quality sheets and nursery accessories rather than mass-produced infant bedding. It's certainly an idea worth considering.

A comprehensive listing of my recent crib bedding articles:

• Licensed Character Crib Bedding
• Picking Quality Crib Bedding
• Safer Crib Bumpers
• Crib Bumpers and Infant Safety
• Safe Crib Sheets Made with Quality

Posted by Jennifer White

Once seen as a must-have item to complete any nursery, crib bumpers have come under scrutinty by health professionals. Bumpers have cost many families the life of their baby. To stir the pot even more, research is finding that bumpers don't necessarily prevent minor injuiries. The reality is that minor injuries, like contusions and stuck limbs, are happening even when crib bumpers are being used.

After spending the past week investigating the literature and looking at crib bumpers currently on the market, I am further assured that my decision to not use bumpers was the safest option for my children. In nosing around, what really got my goat was the number of popular crib bumper products (to mention a few names - Circo, Amy Coe, Koala Baby, Nava's Designs, Lambs' and Ivy) don't even meet basic industry standards.

I knew a lot of this information before I started writing the series. However, the statistics weren't the part that hit the point home for me. It was the demonstration photographs of how infants were found dead in their cribs that tore my heart from my chest. Even though dolls were used, the pictures of babies with crib bumper ties wrapped tightly around their thin necks or pinned under the crib bumper unable to free themselves gave chilling testimony to the reality of the danger of crib bumpers. Independent researchers are chiming in with the likes of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Canada, and the SIDS alliance to say that crib bumpers pose a clear danger to babies and should not be used in cribs. Parents who ignore the warning should, at the least, be choosy about the bumpers they put in their child's crib.

Posted by Jennifer White

My husband is likely one of the biggest They Might Be Giants fans that there is. He owns every album. He has their posters. He has their clothing. He has their posters. He follows the bands news like an over-excited puppy chases his own tail. What can I say, my husband is a bit of a geek.

His passion for the Indie-rock band is being passed on to our children through the children's albums and companion videos of Here Come the ABCs and Here come the 123s. The music is absolutely infectious and thought-provoking. I must admit it has been a very liberating choice over the silly and annoying lyrics that stick in my head of other popular children's bands. Not to mention the lack of ridiculous costumes.

My girls.... Well, they adore the music. Currently the favorites are "The Number Two" and "Triops Has Three Eyes." Evidently those songs are sung best a capella while jumping on my mom's bed while she is trying to make it. I suppose perhaps those factors somehow improve the acoustics or something like that.

So despite my geeky husbands passion, I must admit he's made a great call. John & John certainly make educational children's music appealing to adults as well. These two DVDS/CDS should be in every family collection.

Posted by Jennifer White

Valentine's Day is over and now I am contemplating the next upcoming big holiday, St. Patrick's Day. Sorry, just kidding there. Easter is what I have been thinking about lately.

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. As a Christian, it has a far deeper meaning that just colored Easter eggs, magical bunnies, and chocolate. I do understand why some Christian families choose not to celebrate Easter, the pagan roots of the holiday are well-documented. However, for our family, Easter is a reminder of the hope, faith, and love that comes from Jesus's resurrection.

Our focus is on Christ during Easter, but we do also incorporate modern traditions. Coloring Easter Eggs provides our family with time together. We celebrate each other and share joyous memories.

As far as Easter baskets, we do deviate from the traditional Easter basket. Our children do not receive baskets loaded with candy and sweets. We opt for a themed gift basket. Easter Basket Gift Ideas for Kids has many ideas for Easter baskets, including a basket that focuses specifically on gifts for Christian children.

Another way I encourage my children to learn about the Resurrection of Christ is by capitalizing on their love for cartoons. There are many Christian cartoons which focus on the last days of Jesus Christ. Christian Easter Cartoons shares the plot line, ages the movie is appropriate for, and other important information.

Each family must decide how best to celebrate Easter with their children. For my family, we choose to emphasize what the Resurrection means for us, but sprinkle in modern Easter traditions. May you all find the balance you need to have an enjoyable Easter holiday!