little dictators

the worst presents your child will get this holiday season

2011-12-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

when i was two years old, my aunt got me drums for my birthday.

she didn't yet have any children of her own.

so a few years later when my cousins were born, my mom made sure to get them the loudest, most annoying toys in existence.

now i find myself a parent and the proud recipient of toys i want to smash with a hammer. naturally, though, my children only become attached to the presents i hate the most.... meaning i'll have to chase down the person who bought them with a hammer. i kid! i kid! (mostly. by which i mean i will hunt them to the ends of the earth.)

well, the holidays are upon us. and all the evil toys you've managed to talk your children out of/hide when they weren't looking/pawned off on other people's kids/donated to goodwill will now make their way into your home, whether you like it or not.

here, for your enjoyment, a few of the things i'd like to set fire to the most:

The Ugly Sweater

the ugly sweater usually comes from a relative, meaning you'll have to wrestle your kid into it long enough to take a picture for great-aunt tilly. if you're lucky, you will get a matching set for you, the kids, your spouse and possibly your dog. and i have a feeling you'll be lucky this year. apologies to fido in advance.

The Lego Set of Doom

good lord, do i hate these freaking lego sets. the box may say "ages 4 and up!" but it doesn't matter, because they can only be assembled by someone with an engineering degree. each lego set shows a picture on the box of a bulldozer/thermonuclear reactor/actual working velociraptor that will take approximately 7 working days to finish.

bonus: once completed, you are not actually allowed to play with, touch, or even look at said thermo-bull-raptor because it will fall into one million pieces and you'll have to start the entire process over again.

The Loudest and/or Most Breakable Toy Ever

some toys are loud. some break repeatedly. but most of the toys my children get possess both of these qualities. does a toy fire engine really need to be as loud as an actual fire engine? toy manufacturers seem to think so.

the "level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss" is 90-95 decibels. the "level at which pain begins" is 125 decibels. every toy in my house that makes noise is approximately 126 decibels. volume switch? not necessary! you'll lose hearing soon enough and then it will be a non-issue!

even better is the toy that breaks, over and over and over again. it's the gift that keeps on giving! think you just fixed the shovel on that toy excavator? think again! "didn't i just fix barbie's magic wand?" you did.... but look! magic! it broke again! WHEE!

The Evil Catalogue Insert

my husband and i have become toy-opening ninjas. as soon as the kids rip their gifts open, we swoop in, mission impossible style, to extricate the accompanying catalogue before our children can set their greedy little eyes on them. because once they do.....

.....expect the actual present to lie forgotten and neglected on the ground as your kid pores over the millions and billions of OTHER things they could have gotten but didn't. thought you got them exactly what they wanted? WRONG! it was exactly what they wanted until they saw additional options. options that you, clearly being the horrible, awful, meaniepants parent that you are, didn't think to get them. i hope you're happy.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

...and giving, and giving, and giving. you got the racetrack! good for you! it was the last one on the shelf and you knocked over that parent pushing a stroller to get it! hooray! oh wait, i'm sorry - did you think that you got the entire racetrack? nice try, amateur.

the latest toy company trick that has me cursing the heavens are those which promise an entire world, only to deliver a lamppost from that world. maybe a mailbox. possibly just a shoe. because who thinks to check the fine print when the shiny picture on the front will do?

don't worry, though - you can assemble the toy you actually wanted once you upgrade and buy the Street Kit, People Kit, Car Kit, Upgrade Kit, Gold Star Kit and Best Parent Ever Kit, all for only $49.99 apiece! oh, except that Best Parent Ever Kit - those are sold out.

things i didn't appreciate until i had children, volume 2.

2011-12-09T14:43:00.000-08:00

ah, the good old days. when a bottle of wine and a block of cheese counted as "dinner." and when "late" meant 2am instead of 10pm. who am i kidding, if the phone rings past 9:30, i'm convinced someone is dead.

all these things considered, though, the weekend was still made of of three distinct parts: 1) being wickedly hungover and lying around in bed until noon, 2) eating some kind of greasy food out of a take-out container on the couch, and 3) wash/rinse/repeat the actions of the night before.

parenthood does not allow this. and i really, really didn't appreciate the ability to be nauseous all sunday morning without having to be yelled at by dora and her map.

in the unfortunate event that you allow yourself a tasty adult beverage or two (or three), the Morning After is almost guaranteed to consist of three new distinct parts: 1) being wickedly hungover, 2) being woken up at 5am by your lovely children who are very excited to jump on your head and force you to put a toaster waffle in the oven, and 3) you silently praying for the Babysitting Fairy to come and watch your kids so you can vomit in privacy with some dignity.

things i didn't appreciate until i had children, volume 1.

2011-11-29T11:59:00.000-08:00

so there were a number of things that i just took for granted before i had kids. simple things, really - like going to the grocery store. alone. or picking up prescriptions from walgreens. alone. or pretty much anything. alone.

every morning i make it my duty to take a nice hot shower and pretend to take care of my appearance so that i don't look like a hobo when i drop my kid off at school. it's the only ten minutes of the day that i have to myself. and it is magical. except.....

...the worst sound in the world is that of the bathroom door opening while i am in the middle of my nice steamy alone time. (not nearly as sexy as it sounds.) nice clean alone time now means answering a barrage of questions, offers for company and, best of all, my husband asking me "are you done yet?"

no. no, i am not.

you can run, but you can't hide from your children in the bathroom for long

2011-10-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

dear husbands,

here's a little secret: your wife does not suddenly suffer from lactose intolerance. it's just that the bathroom is the last place she can justifiably hide from her children.

note to my husband: i would never do this. ever. maybe just once. once a day. or twice. twice a day. probably more on weekends.

this is your lingerie drawer.... on toddlers.

2011-10-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

yeah, we all like to pretend that we're the hot milf at our kids school. or maybe that's just me. don't judge.

it is, of course, easier to pretend how hot and put-together i am when i'm not wearing my uggs and my husband's sweatshirt that says "my weiner does tricks" underneath a picture of a dachshund. again, don't judge.

while i fancy myself to still be the cool chick i was in college when i worked at victoria's secret for a semester and ended up with a drawer of garter belts, the reality is a little different these days. by which i mean drastically, completely different.

yeah. that's a sad state of affairs.

possession is 11/10ths of the law.

2011-09-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

toddler law, that is.

i was inspired to create this lovely venn diagram after a playdate. or a weekday. or every day of my life that more than one child is involved.

not mentioned: the crappier the toy is, the higher the desirability level. example: brand spanking new monster truck with remote control = low desirability; small sharp metal truck missing one wheel that lived under the couch for six months and was recently found by my bare foot = the equivalent of women fighting over louboutins.

we're on facebook!

2009-10-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

little dictators is back! great news for all three of you who have been waiting with bated breath.

we are pleased to invite you to join us on facebook. (http://bit.ly/littledictators) feel free to stop by, check things out, or become a fan by clicking on the handy link to the right.

thanks for following along with us and we hope to see you there!

no throw: bottle holder for babies on the go

2008-11-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

www.nothrow.com

.....and we're back! after our self-imposed blogging vacation, little dictators is back online just in time to save you from having to pick up that sippy cup your adorable child just threw on the ground for the 115th time.

the no throw is a thick velcro strap with one end that securely fits around your child's sippy cup or bottle. the other end has a leash-style handle, allowing itself to be looped around your tot's stroller, high chair, car seat or whatever stationary seating arrangement they have decided upon for 5 minutes.

the no throw's double ended sturdy design will keep your child's cup of choice at arm's length, no matter how hard they try to fling it across the room. and believe me, they'll try.

i'll admit: i got this as a baby shower present from my friend maire, who assured me that it would come in handy. i was doubtful. and i was wrong. it's a lifesaver.

the no throw is available in most walgreens stores, as well as online at amazon and many other locations. it's an inexpensive way to save your sanity. after all, the cost of one no throw strap is significantly less than it would cost to go to therapy after muttering "no... i won't pick up the bottle! don't throw your bottle again!" in your sleep for weeks.

p.s. a mom friend of mine pointed out that the no throw can double as a stroller leash. a great solution, since i live in hilly san francisco and have nightmares about runaway strollers. simply loop one end of the no throw to the stroller handlebar, the other around your wrist and you're good to go!

little dictators vacation!

2008-09-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

hi folks..... as you can tell from the lack of posts, we're on a mini vacation around here at little dictators headquarters. (um, yeah.... our vacation looks nothing like the above image.)

we'll be back soon with more fabulous products that your child wants but doesn't need.

see you soon!

jack's big music show!

2008-08-29T10:55:00.001-07:00

www.noggin.com

my cousin has her hands full. she has two boys (a 6 week old and a 20 month old) and even on a good day she barely gets a chance to catch her breath.

she called me two days ago to tell me the news: they're all sick. "ugh," she coughed at me, "i'm exhausted. both boys have colds, i feel like crap, and i just need five minutes to blow my nose. i've been through every episode of sesame street we have on the dvr and if i have to watch dora the explorer one more time, i'm going to go loco. ACHOO!"

i feel your pain. as i've mentioned before when talking about my other favorite kid's show, i'm not a big proponent of letting your tiny tot watch a bunch of tv, but i'm not amish. and sometimes when cole is cranky, or i need two seconds to prepare his lunch or, as happened the other night, my child decides he is absolutely terrified of my super nice friend who loves children and was almost a preschool teacher, some child-friendly programming is just what we need. and jack's big music show is just what my cousin needs.

jack's big music show, on noggin (of course) is not only a great way to keep your child entertained, but teaches them about different types of music. the muppet-like puppets of jack, mary and jack's dog mel play a variety of instruments as they demonstrate rhythm, melody, singing and lots of different sounds.

the puppet sections are interspersed with live music segments. a range of musicians, from house musician laurie berkner to an a capella group to lisa loeb (!) perform songs for your child to sing along with. participation is encouraged and children can learn about the unique sounds of all sorts of instruments and types of music from different cultures.

jack's big music show fulfills all my requirements for children's programming. it's entertaining, bright and colorful, shows great interaction, encourages participation, it's educational and, most importantly, i don't want to pull all of my hair out while watching it. it's sweet enough for children but not so saccharine that it turns parents off.

and good news: my cousin's son loves it! they finally have some new songs to sing along with while they're all back on the road to recovery.

kids organic: healthier ideas for frozen meals

2008-08-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

www.kidsorganic.com

it's the end of a long day. you've built block buildings and knocked them over. you've pushed toy cars all over the house. you've been to the park - twice. you've sung "the wheels on the bus" no less than 700 times.

now all you have to do is make it through dinner and you're home free! what to do when you're exhausted but you still want to feed your child a healthy, well-balanced, organic meal?

shopping at whole foods the other week i stumbled upon kids organic frozen meals. kids organic meals are healthy, well-rounded meals for your tiny tot that provide all the nutrition your children need - with none of the work.

made from locally produced ingredients and served in go-green packaging, kids organic helps ensure that even tired mommies can give their children what they want. each meal is made of all natural and organic ingredients - no translation needed when reading the ingredient list. they're even nutritionally balanced according to the fda's latest food pyramid.

meals are chock full of fiber, minimally processed and come in a variety of kid-friendly options, including macaroni & cheese and baked chicken stars. each entree is accompanied by a fresh vegetable medley and a "dessert" of organic fruit, brown sugar and oatmeal.

kids organic frozen meals microwave in a mere 3 minutes using their revolutionary steam cooking process. let cool for two minutes and voilà! from freezer to table in five minutes flat.

not only are they easy, they're tasty, too. the baked chicken stars got my son to eat chicken - for the first time ever. if that's not an endorsement, i don't know what is. their environmentally-friendly minimal packaging is a huge plus as well. kids organic meals are also healthy enough so that you don't have to feel guilty when snacking on your child's leftovers. not that you would do that, of course.

fisher-price sesame street silly sounds remote

2008-08-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: Fisher-Price Sesame Street Silly Sounds Remote

my son loves watching on demand. at least that's the conclusion i've drawn after he's stolen the remote no less than 700 times and, almost every time, managed to press the "on demand" button.

apparently, there's something he'd really like to watch that i'm not allowing him to. however, despite his father's protests, he's still too young to watch - well, pretty much anything his father watches.

if your child is like mine, then you'll notice how quickly he gravitates towards electronics. even at just a few months old, teethers are quickly tossed aside while your baby tries to grab and drool on your remote control, your cordless phone, your cell, your pda and pretty much anything you think might be better off, say, not covered in drool.

the problem with most "toy" electronics is that they look like toys. and believe me when i say your child will be most unimpressed by this facsimile. they demand the real thing - or at least a reasonable likeness.

fisher-price must have some actual parents in their development department to come up with this sesame street silly sounds remote. not only is it the size and shape of your own prized controller, but it incorporates your child's favorite sesame street characters. the eyes at the top blink when the right button is pressed and the volume control actually works. your child can press any of the numbers to hear silly sounds, numbers, or the voices of oscar, ernie and the rest of the gang.

the sesame street remote is a great way to keep your child occupied and away from your electronics while entertaining them at the same time. now if only it would keep your husband away from the remote control...

blabla kids - stuffies, mobiles and more

2008-08-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

www.blablakids.com

you've seen their soft knit stuffed animals clutched by tots everywhere you go. you've eyed their mobiles in chic boutiques. you've even possibly been silently coveting their tiny finger puppets. "but where are all these things coming from?" you ask. "i must have them for myself! i mean, my child!"

your prayers have been answered! i bring you: blabla. lovingly handcrafted by expert peruvian knitters (no, really!), blabla brings a snuggly softness to all of their fantastic products. blabla brings their signature simple, vibrant style to handmade stuffed animals, brightly colored knit mobiles, even backpacks, finger puppets, blankets and clothing!

all blabla products are made from natural fibers, making them extra cuddley. their modern design coupled with the feel of something that's already been lovingly worn in make them perfect presents for little - and even bigger - kidlets.

blabla's stuffed animals are prized possesions and their 100% cotton clothing is mom-tested and baby-approved. their whimsical knit rattles come in a wide variety of designs, from fruit and vegetables to a medley of songbirds to a giraffe in a hat (a favorite in our house. yeah, i don't get it either.).

who says you can't buy friends? purchase a few new ones for your tot from blabla and they'll never be lonely again.

studio nommo - decorate in style

2008-08-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

www.studionommo.com

i've got a confession to make: i have design envy. right after i make a design decision, i'll see something cool somewhere else and wish i had that instead. it's this envy that kept me from fully decorating my son's room until he was six months old.

i took forever choosing just the right shade of blue for his walls. i spent ages finding the perfect storage, a sturdy-but-cute carpet and just the right bedding. i thought i was done, but now i have one more thing to envy: studio nommo's wallpaper and stickers.

studio nommo is a turkish company that designs clever wallpaper and innovative wall stickers for you to beautify your home. they have a number of products you'll want for yourself, but a special section just for baby. wallpaper patterns have everything from pink candy-colored stripes with alphabet letters to dancing creatures to keep baby company (shown right). their "landscape" wallpaper (shown bottom left), supposedly for adventurous adults, would make a great addition in any playroom.

our favorites? the wall stickers are a simple and easy way to dress up any environment. choose from designs including underwater (shown above) for your deep-sea diver, faux brocade embellishments for your little princess and plump flying birdies for your outdoor enthusiast.

wallpaper designs are scalable to your wall sizes (no awkward edges to work around) and are made of sturdy cleanable fleece vinyl. some designs come with multiple color options for you to work with. still can't find anything you like? although i might think that's impossible, studio nommo will customize wallpaper for you with a design of your choice. you can't lose!

studio nommo offers the best solutions for parents looking for something cool enough for them but still whimsical enough for their little ones. the hardest part? deciding which one of the many designs you'll love to put in your child's room.

boobie tuesday! kellymom.com - breastfeeding and parenting support

2008-08-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

www.kellymom.com

did you know they have breastfeeding classes? until i was pregnant, neither did i. but at 8 months pregnant, i dragged my husband to day one and made him sit in on a breastfeeding class with me. think it's intuitive? i've got news for you: it's not.

when i had questions and couldn't get a hold of the ten million people i called (lactation consultant, obgyn, my son's pedatrician, new mom friends, anyone with a pulse) i would resolve myself to looking up information online. and that's when i found kellymom.com.

kellymom was founded by kelly bonyata, an international board certified lactation consultant and member of the international lactation consultant association. she has been helping mothers and babies breastfeed for over ten years and keeps up-to-date with the latest research and studies so that you have as much information as possible.

website sections cover basics from getting started to common breastfeeding concerns to nursing a preemie to supply and let-down issues. kellymom also touches on everyone's favorite "is this safe when breastfeeding?" so that you can figure out everything from caffeine to alcohol to (finally) dyeing your hair.

there's even additional information on mom & baby nutrition, parenting, postpartum depression, starting solids, fussy babies and finding local breastfeeding support.

kellymom.com is a "must" for new moms who now have help only a click away. there's a reason they've been around for ten years! tell a friend - kellymom will become your new favorite site. make that second favorite.

jj cole outdoor blanket

2008-08-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

www.babiesrus.com

this weekend was another typical san francisco weekend - each day started out damp and covered in fog and ended up gorgeous and sunny.

we had a sweet baby picnic at mission dolores park (meaning it was fun and full of children, not necessarily full of sweet babies) but found ourselves wholly unprepared for the wet transitioning to dry weather.

my husband thought that this was an opportune time to buy a waterproof-poncho-that-unzips-and-doubles-as-a-blanket. of course. i, on the other hand, wanted something better. and by better, i mean cuter.

my friend julie had the best outdoor blanket i've seen by another of our favorite companies, jj cole. makers of little dictators favorite the bundle me, jj cole brings us this fabulous outdoor blanket. it comes in three different and sassy patterns (pink stripes, retro blue dots and green stripes) and measures at a generous 5' x 5'. the built in inserts mean it's easy to fold. ready to go? the blanket packs up into a compact messenger bag with a built-in handle.

this great outdoor blanket is sturdy, attractive and portable. the durable outdoor fabric means you can take your blanket anywhere. from the sandy beach to the damp park, simply wipe it clean when you're done and ready to go. now if only it was so easy to clean your child...

begin smart's "what does baby say?"

2008-08-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: Begin Smart: What Does Baby Say?

i'm desperate for my son to start talking, so that we can have intelligent conversations about how bad this season of project runway is, among other things. but i have to start small.

my mom has taught him important basics, like "on" and "off" while she flicks the light switch up and down, which has only resulting in my son becoming obsessed with light switches. now it's up to me to teach him something - anything - else. because when he starts dating, he will not be able to impress the ladies by pointing at the light fixtures.

begin smart has a number of great books for children that are targeted for specific age groups. "what does baby say?" is aimed at 12-18-month-olds who are working on their vocabularies. the lift-the-flap pages keep baby engaged while you teach them new words. simple question and answers on each page help you encourage baby to talk to you. pages ask questions such as "baby eats a cookie. what does baby say?" then you and your tot can lift the flap to reveal "baby says 'more!' "

also included: mommy drives the car, baby says "bye-bye" and baby sees a doggy, baby says "woof." after months of trying, after reading this book to him, my son finally emitted a "woo-woo," which is as close to "woof" as i'm going to get right now.

the brainy baby series encourages understanding of words and actions, remembering, matching words and actions, imitation and the all important parent-child interaction. they're great books for encouraging curious toddlers, not only with their words but with pages that are easy for little hands to turn. because i'm telling you: better to start reading these books than to end up obsessed with light switches.

boon frog pod - bathtub storage

2008-08-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

www.babiesrus.com

bath time! time to wrestle a wet wriggly baby around in a tub, attempt to scrub him clean and keep him happy for the duration of the bath and then theoretically emerge unscathed and dry with a shiny clean baby.

more likely scenario: wrestle a wet wriggly baby around in a tub, try desperately to entertain him while washing one leg, one half an arm and maybe the front part of his hair and then emerge, soaking wet, with a partly clean baby.

the older your child gets, the more entertainment they need - and this holds true for bath time as well. we now have a small tub that fits in the big tub so my son doesn't slide all over the place, but both tubs are filled to the brim with rubber ducks, a phone that rings when wet, squeaky puppies that squirt water and a variety of other bathtub distractions. where will all this stuff go?

boon's frog pod has two parts: one that sticks to the side of your tub and a porous scoop that stores bath toys when not in use. you can scoop up the soaking wet toys and keep them aside without having to dry them off or worry where they're all going to go. not only that, it's shaped like a frog! how can you not like it?

i've noticed some online reviews that stated people had trouble getting the frog pod to stick - but we didn't. ours has moved happily into our tub and stayed exactly where he was put with suction cups. one small warning, though - we registered for the boon frog pod after seeing it online, but when it arrived in person i realized it was bigger than i thought. (base and scoop measure at 17" x 15".)

boon's frog pod is a welcome addition to our little bath family. now only if he could bathe my child for me - that would be a great present.

boobie tuesday! the first years milk storage organizer

2008-08-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

www.babiesrus.com

ah, the many joys of breastfeeding: the super-sexy nursing bras, the many easy-access shirts you'll be wearing for the first year or so, the giant boobs. while all these things may sound great to your husband, they sound less awesome to new moms. (sorry, guys - but you'll just have to take my word for it.)

oh, and did i forget to mention your new best friend, the breast pump? you'll be seeing this handsome fellow on a daily basis. if you play your cards right, maybe even multiple times a day. and now you're the lucky lady with a freezerful of milk.

i made the clever but not fascinating discovery that if i put each bag down flat on a box of eggo waffles, they would freeze flat enough to take up less space and be able to stack one on top of the other. and when things started to get out of control, i commandeered the ice cube storage tray to keep track of my supply.

wandering around babies r us, however, i discovered a much better idea. the first years milk storage organizer is specifically designed for this very purpose. made for your freezer, the organizer keeps milk upright in a spring-loaded drawer. all you have to do is put bags in the back of the drawer for an easy first-in/first out. no more guessing which is the newest or rooting around among the lean cuisines to find the freshest milk for your baby!

the first years milk storage organizer comes with a cover to keep milk separate from other frostbitten, foil-wrapped items and is also dishwasher safe. don't like their freezer bags? the organizer works with most brands of milk storage bags (we like lansinoh).

disclaimer: although we have personally tested 99% of the items we post, this is something we haven't owned... but wish we had. any feedback from owners would be great! good luck and happy storage.

melissa & doug: wooden knob puzzles for little hands

2008-08-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

www.melissaanddoug.com

while my son is still calling me (and my husband, and the dog, and a bagel) "dada," my friend's little boy knows what all the animals say. my friend will ask, "jakey, what does the cow say?" and he'll confidently reply, "MOO!" hmm. maybe i need to focus more on these things.

melissa and doug are here to help neglectful parents such as myself. a twenty-year-old company started in doug's parents' garage, melissa and doug make safe, quality toys for children. among their most popular: these great wooden puzzles that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

our favorites are their jumbo knob puzzles. designed for little ones still perfecting their grasp, the wooden puzzle pieces have giant knobs in place of handles, so they're easy for baby to grab and put back. or throw. or bang together loudly while your poor dog is trying to nap.

the smiling animals have baby-friendly faces and the sides are smooth and safe. melissa and doug subject all of their toys to rigorous safety testing, and these are no exception. you can choose from a variety of the jumbo knob puzzles, from farm animals (moo! baa! cluck! goat noise!) to jungle friends to cars.

looking for something a little more sophisticated? melissa and doug also make puzzles with everything from maps to the alphabet, and great magnetic puzzles where the pieces literally "stick" in place - no more wandering puzzle pieces waiting for a sleep-deprived parent to step on them.

melissa and doug even sell puzzle storage cases, specifically designed to keep their products organized and out of sight. because you might as well have one part of your life organized.

glug - cool clothes for baby

2008-08-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

www.glugcollection.com

with all the one year old's birthday parties we've got going on these days, i realized that i'm going to have to give a few cool gifts to give myself. yet sometimes, even i find myself at a loss for gifts.

so what to take to the birthday kids...... plastic toys? hmmm, they've got a lot of those. blocks? they've got those, too. how about clothes? but not the dorky little man sweater sets your mom's friend gets you. no, you want something that says, "i'm your cool aunt! i'm the one you'll call when your mom says you can't do stuff - and i'll say you can! because i'm cool!"

glug baby was founded by a husband and wife team who wanted clothes for their young daughter stylish enough for hip parents but still whimsical enough for tots. and they've totally succeeded.

glug baby makes great tees, dresses and skirts that are as comfortable as they are cute. they have a fresh, modern style that's perfect for your hipster child as they prepare for a life of trend setting. they have clever graphic designs for boys (monkey face, tiger head, giant ant) and girls (flirty bird, abstract dandelion, sassy owl).

we love all their designs, but my favorite is the little shirt with a picture of sf's ubiquitous sutro tower that says "local" underneath it. perfect for flaunting your child's native status when traveling around the city.

cordoba building blocks from haba

2008-08-07T09:22:00.001-07:00

www.oompa.com

from one of our favorite websites (oompa) and one of our favorite companies (haba toys) comes the cordoba building block set.

these brightly colored wooden blocks are a fantastic gift (thanks, shar & brian!) and another great thing for you to play with while pretending to play with your child. i mean, let your child play with. and teach him how to share with you.

cordoba building blocks, for ages 1+, come with sixteen patterned and color saturated pieces in all different shapes and sizes. not only are the blocks small and smooth enough for baby to hold, but their different features - rattles! bells! jewels! - will keep you both entertained. every piece is decorated in non-toxic, child-friendly paint, so you don't have to worry when your child inevitably tastes a few pieces.

the blocks all fit together easily and can stack up into endless combinations for your little builder.

need more? the cordoba set matches perfectly with haba's sakrada building blocks as well as their fantasy block set. you know, just in case you can't build a skyscraper tall enough with only one set of blocks.

haba's cordoba blocks are so cute, in fact, that you don't have to worry about picking them up when friends come over. they even look good strewn across your child's floor. which is where they will inevitably end up. especially if it happens to be my child's floor.

wiggly giggler rattle

2008-08-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

www.luvupumkin.com

my son has a lot of toys that make noises. and he loves them all. a tiny piano to plink on (acceptable), rattles to bang around (also acceptable) and that stupid baby einstein octopus that plays one million never-ending songs that start all over again when you look at it the wrong way given to us by my mother-in-law (totally unacceptable).

the wiggly giggler rattle is a small plastic rattle that makes a baby smile-inducing wheezy noise when shaken. it's the perfect size for tiny baby hands, weighs next to nothing and comes in an assortment of bright colors.

the wiggly giggler is baby safe and phthalate free (good), makes a not-too-loud noise that baby will love but won't drive you crazy (better) and can be easily grasped by baby (mostly good, until he realizes he can throw the wiggly giggler at the dog).

the flat ends mean that baby can place them down carefully or even stack them one on the other. the wiggly giggler is highly responsive, promotes gross motor development and most of all, will keep your child entertained for at least a few minutes. you can even buy them in a set of six if you're feeling particularly generous. or you like living dangerously. or your child doesn't have enough toys, because they never do. right?

fisher-price peek-a-blocks

2008-08-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

www.target.com

everyone has that toy that they bought under the guise of "this is for my baby!" when really, it's for them. ("mister floofy pants the stuffed rabbit? oh, that's my son's. yes, i know it's in my purse. yes, i know my son isn't here. leave me alone.")

this time, however, i didn't even have to pretend, because this awesome present was purchased for my son by my sister. fisher-price's peek-a-blocks are one of the coolest kid's toys i've ever seen. peek-a-blocks are small blocks with easy-grip tops and bottoms but clear sides to see the surprise inside.

the alphabet peek-a-block set we were lucky enough to receive has 26 blocks (one for each letter) with a clever and cute object inside for baby to gaze at. the representations are fun and quirky and offer just the right level of interaction.

"u for umbrella" has a little plastic umbrella inside with small "rain" pellets that move around when you shake it. "m for monkey" contains a smiling little monkey that actually swings on his trapeze. "t for train" allows you or baby to twist the locomotive through a mountain over and over again. "a for airplane" takes flight with a spring-mounted plane while "i for ice cream" has a rainbow flurry of sprinkles that dance around the cone.

unfortunately, the pictures really don't do the peek-a-blocks justice. you'll obviously have to purchase them yourself to see just how much fun they are for you - i mean, baby - to play with.
*thanks to aunt stephanie for the fabulous blocks!

SwaddleDesigns: blankets, burp cloths and lovies

2008-08-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

www.swaddledesigns.com

one of my best friends - who's pregnant herself - asked me for new baby gift suggestions yesterday. i was forced to reveal to her some of my favorite "can't fail" baby presents, knowing full well that she'd be the recipient of most if not all of them. i've already shared two: the bundle me and trumpette socks.

there was one go-to gift, however, that i had yet to post. my knight in shining armor, swaddle designs. they have great gifts that would please any mom-to-be.

swaddle designs makes THE best swaddle blankets. don't let anyone talk you into getting anything else. we swaddled cole until he was almost 5 months old, so believe me when i tell you that i am the swaddle master, and the swaddle designs blanket was my savior.

swaddle designs swaddle blankets are big enough to actually wrap up your little one snugly without any middle-of-the-night jailbreaks, and cute enough to use just as a regular blanket. they are made of pre-shrunk cotton flannel, come in lots of patterns and styles and are even available in certified organic cotton for little green babies.

swaddle designs also makes sturdy but sweet burp cloths (that match the blankets, of course) with a super-absorbent center panel and stylish fabric stripes. they're perfect for cleaning up little messes and are attractive enough to break out in front of childless company.

and there's more! swaddle designs gives us little lovies - for the uninitiated, small fuzzy security blankets for your tot to tote on trips. theirs have a silky satin border for baby to snuggle with and a touchy-feely middle. at 14"x14", the perfect size to take to bed, to grandma's house or, let's face it, everywhere.

the good news? my friend now has a great baby present to give. the bad news? she will not be at all surprised when she gets her baby presents from me. sorry, jen!

pottery barn chamois crib sheets - on sale!

2008-07-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

www.potterybarnkids.com

you've already heard about my search for the perfect crib bedding, which fortunately ended happily. for the most part. the bedding came with this super cute polka-dotted crib sheet, which looked fabulous but felt like sandpaper.

by the time my son was six months old, we, at the urging of our sleep consultant, decided that maybe it was time for our baby boy to stop sleeping in his car seat/the co-sleeper/our bedroom. (don't judge me. i was sleep-deprived.) yet i wasn't quite ready for the transition - his crib didn't seem quite snuggly soft enough.

i embarked on an extensive snuggly sheet hunt, looking everywhere i could think of for something cuddly that wouldn't break the bank. eureka! pottery barn kids makes the most delicious chamois bedding for your baby to snooze on.

pottery barn kids' chamois bedding has a soft, velvety feel that will help caress your baby to sleep. the sheets come in a multitude of sherbet colors, have a snug fit and keep their wonderful texture even after multiple washings. better yet - they're now on sale! this is your perfect opportunity to snatch up a rainbow of luxurious bedding for your pampered prince or princess.

now if only the sheets were available for grown ups. then again, if they did, i'd never want to leave my bed!

small audience - tees for tots

2008-07-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

www.smallaudience.com

one of my closest girlfriends had a little boy back in march. but when she was pregnant, she didn't want to find out if she was having a boy or a girl... and one of her reasons was "i don't want people to get me all sorts of dorky baby blue or pink clothing."

i feel your pain.

thank goodness there are companies out there like small audience. based out of southern california, small audience makes vintage-inspired tops and hoodies for your sassy baby. all their shirts are hand-screened with clever designs like "i know the bouncer" (pictured) and "ice ice baby" with a picture of a soft-serve ice cream cone.

all of small audience's shirts are made of super soft cotton with a vintage wash to give your tot that old-school vibe. inside out hems and raw edged sleeves add to the comfort of most of their styles while a roomy fit ensures your baby will be at comfortable as he is cute.

small audience sizes start at 3/6 months and go all the way up to 4T, so there's no reason not to keep your child looking cool as they get bigger.... and cooler.
*thanks to danielle, jake and gil for the sweet shirt!

happy birthday coley!!!

2008-07-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

i'm going to be totally self-indulgent today and wish my son, cole, a happy first birthday instead of putting up a post about baby products.

for all you parents (and parents-to-be), it's unimaginable how fast the first year flies by, how much your life has changed, how much you learn and how much you realize you don't know.

i understand my parents like never before, to my simultaneous delight and chagrin. i worry about things like bruises and broken bones and hurt feelings and karma. (i was a tough teenager to deal with. let's hope the fates treat me kindly!)

i can't imagine what my life would be like without him and barely remember what it was like before he came along. so happy birthday to my little coley. i love you.

help! having trouble reading little dictators?

2008-07-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

hi folks!

okay, a few of my friends and loyal readers have warned me about error messages they've been getting when trying to read our site.

if you're having trouble, please let me know! (um... assuming you can read this, of course.) feel free to email us at littledictators@gmail.com and let us know. we want to make sure to fix things!

our technical department (a.k.a. me) is working on fixing things asap.

push around buggy by step2

2008-07-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: Push Around Buggy

the excitement of first birthdays! all your little baby friends that just a few months ago were rolling around on the floor are suddenly, amazingly, terrifyingly mobile. they want to Go Places! and Touch Everything! and Move Really Fast!

while this milestone birthday means crawling for almost all, cruising for most and walking for the elite, it most definitely means mobility in any way, shape or form. and what's the best way to accomplish this? by being pushed around in a car, of course!

the push around buggy by step2 is every one-year-old's dream. luckily for me, it's also every parent-to-a-one-year-old's dream. the smiling plastic car has a solid handle attached at parent height for you to push your little one up and down the halls of your house or even down the street. there's a steering wheel that moves, a little horn that beeps when pushed and, best of all, a seat belt to keep active curious babies securely in place.

when not in motion, the push around buggy has a generous trunk in front that baby can open and close and hide numerous toys in. that'll keep your baby busy for a guaranteed five minutes. also, for those aspiring princesses, the buggy is also available in a lovely shade of pink. perfect for stuffing my little ponies in the trunk.

the buggy is a good size - big enough for your tot to ride in, but small enough to hide in a closet when playtime is over. as baby gets bigger and more independent, the buggy's handle is removable, so you could let your little one out to explore on his own..... within eyesight, of course.

oh, by the way - can't find your car keys? try looking in the push around buggy's trunk.

justplaygrounds.com - marin playground listings

2008-07-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

www.justplaygrounds.com

woo! it has been one busy week leading up to cole's first birthday, and it's not even here yet!

needless to say, things have been hectic and that's why we've been a little light on posts. between my mother-in-law spending 5 hours on the tarmac and then spending the night in the newark airport just to get out here and the birthday parties we'll have literally every weekend between now and september, we are one busy family.

we had our friend ella's first birthday party today in beautiful belvedere, ca at the belvedere community park. it was so much fun that we'd actually go back to hang out, despite the 45 minute drive. a shaded area with stone gazebo and picnic tables skirts a manicured lawn, while the recently renovated playground provides fun for kids of all ages. there are see saws, baby swings, climbing structures and even little plastic cars and walkers to keep your tot busy.

justplaygrounds.com is a great website to give you more information on marin's playgrounds so that you, too, can drive to beautiful marin on a gorgeous bay area day. there are listings by city with multiple pictures of each park. helpful amenities are detailed on each page so that you can be informed on everything from the parking situation to whether or not there's drinking water to if the bathrooms are available (and clean).

if only there were a justplaygrounds.com for every county! i'd be on it in a minute. hmm.... our san francisco guide will have to wait, though, until we're done with all these birthday parties!

no added sugar - sassy clothes for tiny tots

2008-07-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

www.noaddedsugar.co.uk

my son's first birthday is right around the corner, and i knew his coolest presents would come from my girlfriends.

a fedex arrived on my doorstep the other day, and the return address said "no added sugar" - and that the package was coming from london.

"well, that's interesting," i thought. "someone's sending me sugar-free candy from the united kingdom. how..... weird."

then i opened the package. inside was a sleek white box with a bunny-and-crossbones logo. (a good omen if there ever was one.) and packaged neatly inside bunny-printed tissue paper was the most awesome baby shirt i have ever seen. printed across the front was the sweet phrase "lock up your daughters" - with the word "lock" in gold sparkle, no less. awesome.

no added sugar makes edgy and sweet clothes for babies and little ones up to age 8. their silk screened designs come on buttery soft premium jersey cotton with a thick luxurious feel. the envelope neck makes for what no added sugar appropriately and accurately calls "no tears dressing."

no added sugar was created by a london mom who felt there was a distinct lack of cool baby clothes - so she ended up designing her own. eight years later, her designs are carried around the world in stores like harrod's and fred segal. while they have a fantastic online store front, those of us in la, new york, san francisco and a few other select us cities are lucky enough to buy their products in person.

we love our new shirt. now the only problem we have is deciding if it's appropriate or not for a one-year-old's first birthday party.
* many thanks to aunt jen & uncle mike for the awesome present!

baby gap triple-roll socks

2008-07-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

www.gap.com

oh, baby socks. you are so cute and so challenging at the same time. i must have tried a million different kinds on my son only to find them strewn all over the floor because they just. won't. stay. on!

a few factors will be constantly working against you:

your baby is crawling and, now that he is mobile, can leave a trail of socks behind him;

your baby has discovered his feet and therefore has discovered that he can pull his socks off whenever he wants; and

your baby's friend has discovered your baby's feet and therefore has discovered that he can pull your baby's socks off whenever he wants.

how can you compete when the odds are against you? personal experience + advice from other mommies = baby gap triple-roll socks. when babies are little, we love trumpette's socks for their cute styles and magical ability to stay on, but they don't come sized for toddlers.

baby gap's triple-roll socks have accomplished the elusive trifecta: they're soft and comfortable, thick enough to keep baby feet warm but thin enough to wear under robeez and they actually stay on baby's feet. baby gap's socks also have non-skid lettering on the bottom for your toddlers beginning to cruise or - gasp - actually walk.

next up? robeez!

boobie tuesday! medela nursing stool

2008-07-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

www.target.com

the first few days home from the hospital are a whirlwind. you're overjoyed and amazed that this tiny new little person lives in your house. you cuddle your newborn, leaning over to whisper "i love you"s in his precious little ear. and omfg does your back hurt.

nurses, friends and lactation consultants alike told me i needed a nursing stool. "huh," i thought. "does it really make that much of a difference?"

answer: yes.

medela's nursing stool is angled just right to support nursing (and even pregnant) moms' backs. while nursing, it helps eliminate that back-breaking "lean over" factor by propping up your knees at just the right angle. and especially for people who are on the shorter side - like me! - medela's nursing stool can be a lifesaver. it's the perfect compliment to your glider and is small enough to be carried around from room to room.

the nursing stool comes in white or wood to match your decor and when you're done nursing, your child will have a blast trying to climb it. whether you like it or not.

monday mommysaver: radio flyer walker wagon

2008-07-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon

the pre-walking stage is about as exciting as it gets around here. between cruising from couch to couch and occasionally forgetting that he can't quite stand on his own yet, i'm realizing that this is the least mobile my son will be for, say, the next million years.

that being said, even though i know it'll be the end of any remaining peace i may have, i'm really excited for cole to start walking. while he's perfectly happy with the little plastic walker we have at home, my friend jen highly recommends the radio flyer walker wagon.

radio flyer's walker wagon has been a bestseller for 25 years, and it's easy to see why. it has a durable build and is made of natural solid wood. as jen says, its solid design helps keep things stable when your little one's pulling up to use it as a walker. the front bumper will help save baby, furniture and (hopefully) even your dog from being bumped into, while the sturdy molded tires have enough grip to keep baby from sliding around when on the move.

the removable wooden sides keep things interesting as your child gains more confidence walking. when the sides are on, they make a perfect space for your child's favorite toys, bouncy balls, blankies or (hopefully not) your dog.

the radio flyer walker wagon makes a great gift for that special toddler-to-be in your life. and just in case my parents are reading this, i love you. and don't forget your grandson's first birthday is coming up.

the going to bed book by sandra boynton

2008-07-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: The Going-To-Bed Book

ah, bedtime stories. who doesn't love a good bedtime story? we read before every nap and before bedtime at night. however i've discovered something: babies have surprisingly short attention spans. who knew?

lots of books i love have been nixed off of the bedtime reading list, including anything that's not a board book. (incidentally, we asked our friends with a 2 1/2 year old when we could graduate to "real" books without getting them torn to shreds. their answer? "we'll let you know.") also off the list? anything with too many words on each page, anything too long and anything that drives me crazy. sorry, but when you read the same book 3, 4 or 5 times in a row, you'd better find it enjoyable.

beloved illustrator and author sandra boynton brings us "the going to bed book," a whimsical tale of animals that live on a boat (of course), brush their teeth (naturally) and exercise (um... okay) before going to bed. her lively illustrations of dogs putting on pajamas and elephants exercising on boat decks keep little ones riveted while her short but sweet rhymes tell a silly going to bed story perfect for right before sleep.

the going to bed book is a perfect addition to baby's library and is a tale you'll both love to read over and over again. because i can promise you, if your baby gets his way, you will be reading it over and over and over and over again.

puppy pacifier clips by north american bear co.

2008-07-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

www.hunkydoryonline.com

ah, pacifiers. a mother's best friend and worst enemy. when cole was a colicky baby, i remember pulling his pediatrician aside and asking in a whispered panic, "how soon can we give him the pacifier?"

then, of course, after a few months of that, i started thinking, "crap - now i'm going to have a 5 year old with a pacifier." for the record, we went off it cold turkey at 6 months and never looked back. but while we had it, man, was it a lifesaver.

the worst part about the necessary evil of the "paci" was how often it would end up thrown on the floor, in the dirt, at the dog or in a mud puddle - you name it. which would leave me or my husband scrambling to find a clean one buried at the bottom of the diaper bag. better yet, i'd be driving in the car on a long journey only to have my son spit out the paci into the depths of the car seat. now how am i supposed to find it with one hand while stopped at a stop sign?

north american bear company, maker of many snuggly soft toys for wee ones, brings us these great puppy pacifier clips. they have brought their popular ollie dachshund (obviously a favorite in our home) and turned him into baby's best friend. in four adorable styles - golden lab, grey schnauzer, brown & white terrier and, of course, ollie dachshund - north american bear company will make sure that your pacifier's not going anywhere.

each baby-safe plush pooch has a sturdy clip on the side to attach securely to baby's clothes while the other end of the gingham check ribbon loops around the pacifier with a strong velcro closure. the puppy is soft and lightweight enough to not bother baby and even gives him a friend to hang out with... or munch on. besides, why settle for an ugly plastic pacifier clip when you can have a loyal and trusted friend guard it for you?

the blanket lady

2008-07-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

www.blanketlady.com

more baby showers = more baby shower presents. but what to get for that someone special? when it's your good friend having a baby, buying them a diaper genie just won't do.

from my friend talia comes "the blanket lady"! don't let her - ahem - "rudimentary" website fool you. the blanket lady makes beautiful personalized gifts for your little one or someone else's lucky baby. the blanket lady will create a luxurious customized blanket using your baby's name as a pattern. want more? you can choose from over 50 colors to mix n' match for your own personal touch.

customized blankets from the blanket lady are double sided, super soft and generously sized at approximately 25” x 46”. not only is the pattern made up of baby's name, but you can put baby's full name and birth date on the bottom. as an added bonus, blankets are machine washable and dryer safe – no shrinking or fading. perfect for those new moms who don't have time to hand wash or drip dry!

believe me when i say the picture does not do these blankets justice - i've seen one of them in person and can attest that they're a really nice quality - soft, but still with a good heft to them. perfect for carrying around in the car, to the park and especially on playdates - you'll always know which one is yours!

the petit appetit cookbook - organic recipes for little ones

2008-07-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

www.petitappetit.com
www.amazon.com: The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler

when i was younger and visiting family in savannah for the summer, my parents would send my cousin and me to the local day camp to keep us busy. we'd flop around in the pool and beat the crap out of each other in dodgeball and then, come afternoon, it was snack time.

i remember clearly that first day - we were presented red, ripe, juicy slices of watermelon at snack time. "sweet!" i remember thinking. "watermelon is AWESOME! this camp rules."

day two: snack time again. and what did we get? watermelon... again! could i be any luckier?

day three: snack time once more. "guess what we're getting?" smiled my counselors with the utmost sincerity, "watermelon! hooray!"

wait a minute. this was not what i signed up for.

and neither did my son. however, like my poor misguided camp counselors, i find myself feeding him the same things every single day. bananas are easy! you love bananas! waffle? yes, please! how about for every meal? it's time to change up my repertoire.

from my trusted mommy friend nicole comes the petit appetit cookbook. mother of 3 1/2 year old brayden, she has had her experience with picky eaters and knows of what she speaks. so i'll let her tell you:

"the petit appetit cookbook is by far the best organic cookbook for kids that i have ever found, intended for children four months and up. i didn't discover it until brayden was about a year old, and it was just about the time we were both getting bored with the same old purees and finger foods.

we have tried most of the recipes in the last couple of years and have found them simple, flavorful, wholesome and interesting enough for parents, too. the book lists all nutritional information on the sidebar of each page, along with reference icons for no-sugar added, vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free and vegetarian recipes. some of brayden's favorites include "heart-y yogurt pancakes," "mom's meatloaf with red pepper puree," "baby ginger carrots," and "baked chicken bites." (all healthier versions of foods we normally eat - although actually this is one of the few meatloaf recipes i will tolerate! the author also calls refers to the meatloaf recipe as "beef cakes" since meatloaf has such an old-fashioned and slightly gross connotation).

we made the "celebration cupcakes" for brayden's first birthday (a recipe adapted from the children wtih diabetes website that uses half the sugar of most other cupcake recipes), and we still make the "mini apple banana bran muffins" regularly. the recipes are divided up by age-appropriateness and the book also includes multiple appendixes in the back for handy notes, like a food introduction record and toddler food diary.

there are no pictures or frills in this book, but in my opinion its attractive cover and clean layout make it a nice gift for new parents. "

so there you have it! go pick up your copy of the petit appetit cookbook today.

*thanks to niki for the suggestion and write up!

boobie tuesday! bella materna bras and mommy gear

2008-07-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.bellamaterna.com/shop/

there must be some rule that i'm unaware of that says nursing bras and maternity gear have to be both ugly and uncomfortable.

bella materna is here to break that rule. they offer luxurious intimates for expectant and new moms that will replace your super-foxy current ensemble of target's nursing tanks and your husband's pajama bottoms. (speaking from experience, of course.)

bella materna carries everything from comfy maternity/nursing lounge pants to a sexy french lace nursing bra with matching tanga panties that are low enough for even pregnant mommies to wear.

we particularly love bella materna's wide range of nursing bras. offering both underwire and wire-free styles, bella materna has something for just about everyone. our favorite? the ruched clip nursing bra (shown) with sassy ruching fashion detail in front that disappears under a t-shirt, and has great separation for a bra with no underwire. no uni-boob for you! bella materna bras have an easy, one-handed clasp, and a 4-stage hook-and-eye back closure to take you from pregnant mommy to brand new nursing mom to breastfeeding pro. the italian nylon/lycra material not only feels soft and silky to the touch, but dries fast.... just in case. best of all, if your bella materna bra needs a little shrinking for your changes over time, just toss it in the dryer once in a while and problem solved!as for your husband's pajama bottoms, you can keep them. we won't tell as long as you promise to mix it up every once in a while with something cute from bella materna.

monday mommysaver: peek-a-boo pop up tunnel

2008-07-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

www.rightstart.com

blah, mondays. if you're a stay-at-home mom like me, then you also have 5 whole days before you've got both hands free at the same time. what to do with your cranky baby when it's yucky outside, you're tired and all your friends are busy? tunnel time!

the pop up co. makes your child's (and dachshund's) new favorite toy: a tunnel that goes right in your house! come on, you've given up the pretense of "not having giant toys in the house" a long time ago, so you might as well have some fun with it.

available through right start (one of our favorite companies) as well as other toy stores, the peek-a-boo pop up tunnel is really cool. it's 6 feet long - big enough for adventures, not so big that your kidlet will get tired halfway through. the brightly colored fabric is easy to clean (we unintentionally tested out that aspect over the weekend) and best of all has a long mesh panel that runs the length of the tunnel, allowing you to see what baby's up to and also letting them know you're right there to keep them company.

after you're done playing with the peek-a-boo tunnel, it folds up quickly into a flat circle with easy-close velcro tabs, so you don't have to live with it taking over your entire living room when not in use.

my son cole crawled through the tunnel all weekend long, back and forth, as did my weiner dog. so did my husband, who took an ill-advised trip halfway through the tunnel (before getting stuck). it has been baby, puppy and husband approved, although i'd only recommend letting the first two travel through it.

bay area discovery museum

2008-07-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

www.baykidsmuseum.org

almost everyone i know with a child has been to the discovery museum. and everyone who has gone tells me that i absolutely have to go. with that kind of unanimous endorsement, who am i to say no?

so yesterday we packed up and headed over the golden gate bridge to the beautiful bayside town of sausalito and the bay area discovery museum. and now i am joining the legions of fans by telling you that you also absolutely have to go!

not only is the museum nestled against breathtaking views of the bay (really - what other children's museum do you know of that offers spectacular views of the golden gate bridge?), but the museum itself is a treat.

since its inception in 1987, the bay area discovery museum has been recognized as one of the best children's museums in the country. they serve over 260,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy their fantastic facilities and beautiful outdoor space. for little guys like my son, their indoor tot spot is a real treat.

tot spot, designed specifically for crawlers to preschoolers under 42", offers exhibits and play areas designed on animal habitats - so feel free to bounce away in a lily pond, crawl through cave-like tunnels and explore faux wilderness. want to try on bee wings? play with a skunk hand puppet? press a panel that makes frog noises over and over and over again? consider it done!

the outdoor tot spot space has a man-made "stream" with plastic fish to squeeze and touch in addition to hills to climb and instruments to play. but that's not all! for older kids, lookout cove offers 2.5-acres of outdoor, interactive exploration areas featuring natural, cultural and built icons of the bay area. all this plus art studios, an "underwater" tunnel, a 300-gallon sea star tank and rotating exhibitions? sign me up!

bebe au lait, a.k.a. hooter hiders

2008-07-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

www.bebeaulait.com

bebe au lait nursing covers, née "hooter hiders" are a breastfeeding mom's best friend. apparently the sassy original name was met with less-than-enthusiastic customer response, so now it's same product, new marketing. (i'll admit, my mom thought the term "hooter hiders" was gross, but my mom is a genteel southern lady. most of the time.)

this is a great present for your new mom friend who's convinced (like i was) that she's never, ever going to breastfeed in public. i carried this thing around in my diaper bag for weeks without using it, pretending that i'm also a genteel southern lady who would never do such a thing. then i remembered two things: 1) i was raised in northern california and 2) i have no shame.

even if you may secretly love your gigantic new-mom boobs, you probably don't want to share them with the public at large. bebe au lait nursing covers are generously sized aprons that are not only big enough to cover up baby, but will ensure that you won't be flashing your neighbors during brunch at the world's smallest topless revue.

the neck straps are secure and adjustable, there's a small discreet terrycloth pocket for clean-ups and the rigid neckline allows you and only you to see what baby's up to. having the top bow out for eye contact with baby in addition to being machine washable are two of bebe au lait's greatest qualities. they even have a new "simple" line made of organic linen and cotton. no wonder they've won so many awards!

bebe au lait's nursing apron is the easiest way to discreetly breastfeed while you're out and about, and for some reason, dads really push the public breastfeeding. so if your husband won't shut up about how it's "not a big deal," use one of these and discover it really isn't. just don't tell him i told you so.

the girlfriends' guide to pregnancy by vicki iovine

2008-07-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy

now that i have not 1, not 2, but 4!! friends who are expecting (congrats, ladies! welcome to the club!), i think it's time we showed them a little love around here.

as i've mentioned, my pregnancy was, shall we say, "challenging." i feel bad complaining when i had friends who were on bed rest for weeks (ugh - you are champions!), but barfing well into my sixth month of pregnancy was really not my idea of a good time.

fortunately for me, i a) had girlfriends who were going through the same thing and b) was reading vicki iovine's "the girlfriends' guide to pregnancy." my friend lisa loaned me this book and after reading the first chapter, i went out and bought my own copy so i could loan it to my friends.

now i have to warn you, this book may not be for everyone. if you don't appreciate sarcasm, then you're probably not only going to hate "the girlfriends' guide," but you most likely think i'm a smart-ass to boot. if you think pregnancy is something sacred and joyous and not to be made fun of, again, this isn't the book for you. however, if you think pregnancy is great but also laugh at chapter titles like "pregnancy insanity," "labor begins (finally)" and also excerpts including "attention husbands of pregnant women! do not take it personally if your pregnant wife would rather sleep than sleep with you!" then you're my target audience.

think the phrase "morning sickness" should really be "all day and all night and possibly for months sickness"? excited to be a mom but secretly terrified you're going to leave your baby on the car roof when you drive somewhere? wonder why your pregnancy brain means you can't remember anything, ever, anymore? and most importantly, want to read a book about pregnancy by a mom who not only had 4 kids in 6 years (no twins!) but was a phi beta kappa and a playboy centerfold? yes! you are really going to enjoy "the girlfriends' guide to pregnancy."

mustela high sun protection lotion spf 50

2008-07-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

www.mustelausa.com

it's hot. so hot, in fact, that it's actually cooler outside than it is in my house. time to pack up my son and head to the park!

my 11-month-old son has been blessed with my husband's good looks and my casper-the-ghost white skin. as a consequence, he will now be subjected to me slathering him in sunscreen every time we leave the house.

but not any sun lotion will do! mustela, the brand known for their excellent baby and mommy skin products, has a wonderful sun protection lotion that comes in a casper-friendly spf 50.

formulated specifically for babies over 6 months, mustela's high sun protection lotion comes in both a hand-lotion sized package and a convenient lip gloss sized tube, which can be easily slipped into your pocket as you head out the door. their water- and sweat-resistant formula glides on easily without leaving a sticky feeling behind.

mustela's sun protection lotion contains both titanium and zinc oxide for maximum protection against those harmful summer rays but is still fragrance-free and delicate enough to use on baby's sweet face. just make sure you smooth the lotion in, or it's whiteness will really leave your child looking like a friendly ghost.

you can even use it on your own sensitive skin! just make sure you leave a little for baby.

boobie tuesday! medela pump in style advanced

2008-07-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

www.medelabreastfeedingus.com

if i concentrate really hard, i can remember what life was like before i had children. and if i concentrate even harder, i can vaguely recollect what it was like to be single.

in those days, i used to ask my friends' opinions on all sorts of important things, like, "is this shirt too slutty for a first date?" "i called him and he didn't call me back.... should i call him again?" or "which bar should i meet you at at 2am?"

my life these days is decidedly different. before my son was born, i'd heard ugly rumors of needing something called a "breast pump" which, contrary to its name was not sexy at all. worse than that, i had no idea which one to buy. "can't we just rent one?" asked my husband. um, no. no, we can't.

so i polled all my trusted mommy friends to get their opinions and to a one they all said "medela pump in style advanced." what makes this so different from the rest? the medela pump in style advanced was originally developed for hospitals and, in my experience, is the one most recommended by lactation consultants. the pump in style advanced has easy to use controls and uses a two-phase expression for maximum milk flow and, theoretically, less time "at the pump." it's as comfortable as one of these things can be and mimics a baby's natural nursing rhythm.

medela's pump in style advanced comes in a number of different styles, from backpack to shoulder bag to messenger bag, but unless you plan on traveling with your pump often, i'd save your money and pick the least expensive option. and take that saved cash to buy yourself a little something nice that has nothing to do with boobs.

new dictator alert!

2008-07-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

congrats to my cousin evan & her husband mike on their beautiful baby boy!

eli ryan was born on july 6 in atlanta, ga.

congrats to evan, mike and "big brother" jonah on their wonderful new addition!

wheely bug

2008-07-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

www.rightstart.com
www.wheelybug.com

uh-oh..... your child wants to walk. badly. and while we have plastic ride-on toys littering our living room, my friend jen went the sophisticated route and picked up this great wheely bug. show off. it's a wonder i'm still friends with her.

ahem. getting back to the wheely bug, it's a great little ride-on toy for your little one that you won't be too embarrassed to leave out when company comes over. more importantly, of course, kids love it.

the wheely bug is covered in soft leather over a foam padding with four sturdy rotating wheels that move in all directions, helping prevent your tiny tot from getting stuck in place. the aluminum handle is sturdy and the whole "bug" is pvc-free. not only is wheely bug cute, but he'll help your child develop his gross motor skills. recommended age is 1.5 years+, but 11 month old cole was having a grand old (supervised) time, let me tell you.

wheely bug has won all sorts of awards, including best australian toy for 5 out of 6 years in a row, which is no surprise to those who've seen it. and did i mention that they exceed toy safety standards and use renewable timber lumber? fun and eco-friendly, too!

the wheely bug comes in traditional ladybug (shown) and bumblebee and now is available in new mouse, cow and tiger designs. grrowr! i guess i'll have to stay friends with jen so that cole can go to her house and borrow wheely bug for a little while longer. just don't blow my cover.

crocodile creek lunch boxes

2008-07-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

www.crocodilecreek.com

as the long weekend continues, you're probably taking your little one to all sorts of exciting places. or at least maybe out to eat once. (come on..... your spouse is home. live dangerously! leave the house!)

if, like me, you've been using the medela bottle storage bag to cart your child's lunch around, then, like me, you're also finding it woefully inadequate. it was all well and good before my son was eating "real" food and i just needed to throw a bottle or two in there, but now i definitely need something bigger. and cuter.

crocodile creek, maker of many cute things for your children, includes these great little lunch boxes among their fabulous products. the lunch boxes are the perfect size for fitting a sippy cup, a bib, a few spoons, a package of wet wipes, some cheerios and/or puffs and two small jars of baby food, at least in my experience. there's an outside pocket to stash either dirty spoons, a packet of crackers or other mystery items in and a sturdy handle to carry everything around.

crocodile creek lunch boxes come in tons of great patterns, from dinosaurs for your little dinosaur to beautiful butterflies for your little princess. the lunch boxes are phthalate and PVC free and have lead-free linings in addition to conforming to FDA and us/european safety standards. what more could you ask for? you got it! the whole thing can be hand washed with mild soap and a soft cloth. (sorry, they are amazing, but they don't wash themselves.

skip hop pronto mini changer

2008-07-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com - skip hop pronto mini changer

4th of july weekend! time to travel with your tot! also time to figure out how to change your baby on the go without bringing your entire changing table on the road.

skip hop, one of my favorite modern baby companies, is here to rescue you. skip hop's pronto is a mini changing table wrapped up into an easy and attractive package. when open, you've got a good size changing pad that not only wipes clean, but has a removable head pillow to make your little dictator as comfortable as possible. not only that, there's an included wipes case and a generous-sized mesh pocket for your delicate baby's many creams and ointments.

when closed, skip hop's pronto is small enough to tote around easily with a strap to carry on your wrist or clip to your stroller. there's also a front zipper pocket to throw your car keys or other personal items in while you're running around.

i wish i'd had one of these when we took cole on a plane - it would have been much easier and more attractive than my homemade intricate ziploc bag system.

babyhawk baby carriers

2008-07-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

www.babyhawk.com

when cole was first born, we carried him everywhere in his carseat. then we realized that maybe, just maybe, he actually wanted to look around. so we inherited a baby bjorn from a friend and i have to say, it worked surprisingly well despite looking like a frat guy's bedspread in all its navy and red plaid glory. seriously, this thing was ugly as sin. (um... thanks, joe, for the loan!)

then my friend katrina e-mailed me the other day asking if i'd heard of babyhawk carriers. i clicked through to their sassy website and discovered what are hands-down the best looking baby carriers i've ever seen. their wide variety of colors and cool fabrics (retro bird prints? yes! punk rock baby skulls in bright aqua? yes again!)were much cooler than what i own.

babyhawk mei tai's (designed after traditional asian baby carriers) were designed by a mom looking for a carrier that was not only stylish, but comfortable and safe. the straps are wide and durable and the mei tai provides lots of support for your little one (and you!) as you traipse all over town. you can carry baby on the front, back or even on your hip if you want to mix things up.

the coolest part about babyhawk is that you can actually design your own carrier. you can choose from over 300 fabrics and 15 strap colors to create a babyhawk that's all your own. no ugly bedspread babies for you! go babyhawk instead.

boobie tuesday! BornFree bottles

2008-07-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

www.newbornfree.com

if you've heard about the dangers of certain plastics for your baby but the thought of using glass bottles makes you feel like a 1950s housewife, then let me introduce you to BornFree.

BornFree makes bottles, cups and accessories for your little one that are free of Bisphenol-A (BPA), Phthalates and PVC - all the things that the news tells you to be worried about. they were one of the first companies to do so.

not only are BornFree's products BPA-free, they also have a new innovative air vent that helps prevent ear infections and (supposedly) eliminate colic symptoms - although i have to be honest with you, having had a colicky baby, i don't think a bottle is going to be your cure. (try some valium instead. i kid! i kid! please don't write me angry letters.)

BornFree makes bottles, training cups and drinking cups so that your little one can be safe and BPA-free well past their first birthday. still not good enough for you? how about this: BornFree is giving away a year's supply of BornFree bottles to babies born on father's day - june 15, 2008! the offer is limited to the first 1000 entrants, so hurry up and get your free bottles, you lucky babies!

table toppers

2008-06-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

www.tabletopper.com

my friend rachel came to visit with her adorable 3 month old son and convinced me that yes, i do need to leave the house once in a while. so we packed up the boys and headed on down to my mostly-favorite baby-friendly eatery for lunch.

seeing as i live in the baby and puppy capitol of san francisco, it came as no surprise that there were seated parties with tiny tots all over the restaurant the minute we walked in. and what was this? children eating their cheerios and string cheese and hypoallergenic rice crackers off of clean-looking adhesive placemats instead of sticky sticky tables? amazing! i must investigate.

closer inspection revealed that these children were eating off of something called table toppers. table toppers are disposable, stick-in-place placemats for your little one to use on the go. no more tiny hands on dirty tables for you! table toppers provide a sanitary eating surface wherever you are by sticking in place to the table - and then can be disposed of after your meal. no muss, no fuss. it's a clean surface you can take with you in your diaper bag.

table toppers come in a variety of fun patterns to help keep your little one occupied while you try to actually eat something yourself. not only are their products bpa and phthalate free, but they've just come out with a new, eco-friendly biodegradable line! you can help keep your baby safe from germy tables while still protecting the environment from, well, you and your baby. time to go out for lunch!

consumer product safety commission e-mail list

2008-06-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

https://www.cpsc.gov/

every night on the news it seems that there's a new and terrifying product recall that i've been blissfully unaware of. things like "caution! your baby's food is made of asbestos!" or "in the news today: bag o' broken glass deemed unsafe for toddlers."

yikes. how do people find out about all these things? i feel like i'm always a week too late and find out that the Baby Jackhammer at Home Kit™ (not for sale in stores) will put my son's eye out only after i've let him play with it already.

my cousin turned me on to the consumer product safety commission's e-mail list for baby products. you can get up to date information in one easy daily e-mail. simply click on the link above, enter your e-mail address and scroll down to select "only those recalls involving infant/child products (list name: child)" so that you don't get unwanted information. you'll receive updates on recalled products the minute it's available.

the cpsc has a strict privacy policy and promises not to give out your e-mail address, so there's no reason not to sign up. after all, if you can get the daily digest about what stupid thing speidi's doing today, you can help keep your little dictator safe.

our friend teensygreen on the radio!

2008-06-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/

stefani newman, our friend and creator of teensygreen (the blog that helps you and your kids "green" your lifestyle) is on VoiceAmerica RIGHT NOW! (9-10am PDT)

click on the above link to listen to stefani share her green tips for you and your family.

vivian sonnenberg, sleep consultant

2008-06-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

www.viviansonnenberg.com

before i was pregnant, i had never heard the term "sleep consultant." then as my due date approached, i thought, "what kind of a moron hires a sleep consultant?"

answer: me.

my beautiful baby boy was a joy in the hospital. "see?" my husband and i would whisper gleefully to each other, "he's only 5 hours old and he's already the best sleeper ever! we are so lucky!" then we got home.

by the time he was 5 months old, my wonderful little man decided he only wanted to sleep for 90 minutes at a time. always. every night. and after about a month of these 1 1/2 hour "sleep" spurts, with my husband and i officially members of the living dead, we decided to hire our first (yes, first) sleep consultant. and after 6 weeks of working with her and having our only accomplishment be one four-hour stretch at the beginning of the night, we gave up and called vivian sonnenberg.

i had heard vivian's name passed around in mommy circles like some secret password and wondered why all these parents were so enamored of her. people warned, "your baby will have to cry!" and others sang "she saved my life!" and for us, both were true.

after hearing vivian's name for months, i finally gave up and called her. she paid us a house call and that night, cole only woke up ONCE. i think she drugged him. okay, probably not, but she does seem to have the magic baby touch. vivian sonnenberg has almost 20 years of experience working with babies and infants. trained as a nurse in argentina, vivian has been working with little ones of all ages to help them finally sleep and be happier, healthier babies..... not to mention with happier, healthier parents.

vivian's fee includes an initial meeting as well as two solid months of phone follow up, where she will call you almost every day to check in with you and offer periodic advice and support. she is based out of mill valley and will travel within the sf bay area. does she do phone consultations for people out of the area? unfortunately, i'm not sure. but i do know that she was worth every penny that we spent on her.

snack-trap cup

2008-06-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

www.toysrus.com

your little one has reached an important milestone: that's right, he's eating cheerios. or puffs. or something else small that he can not only pick up, but also throw! all! over! the! place!!!

i'm convinced we're currently in danger of being banned from one of our favorite baby-friendly restaurants. on a recent outing, cole decided that the proper way to eat cheerios involved throwing ten on the floor for every one he ate. by the time we left, we were sitting on a virtual carpet of cheerios. funny, yes, but not necessarily worth the glares we got from the manager. (child-hating bastard. your restaurant is in noe valley. if you don't like kids, you're in the wrong neighborhood, buddy.)

ahem. getting back to the point, i realized we needed a better snack containment system than "put cheerios on table, let baby throw them on floor." wandering around babies r us my eyes locked in on the snack-trap, the original "anti-spill" snack cup. oooh - tell me more, snack-trap!

the snack-trap, taglined as "because kids spill things," is a brilliant invention. the perfect size to tote around town, the snack-trap cup had two handles for baby to grip and also and most importantly their patent-pending lid. its unique flexible slot design means that your baby's little hands can easily reach in but snacks are kept securely inside. our test run out yesterday showed that not all snack spillage was avoided completely, but it was an ENORMOUS improvement over everything else i've seen.

snack-trap's design even means baby can lift up the cup and turn it upside down without a barrage of gerber puffs falling on his head. because you know it's only a matter of time before he tries.

boobie tuesday! medela sleep nursing bra

2008-06-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

hey, ladies. you're looking good. real good. you know what would be even sexier? medela's sleep nursing bra.

okay. maybe it's not hottest thing since la perla, but medela's sleep nursing bra is a necessity for nursing moms during those early months.

you're barely sleeping and the little sleep you have is interrupted by your tiny hungry baby. time to stumble out of bed, feed baby, fall asleep while feeding baby and then stumble back to bed. hopefully you remembered to put baby back in his crib at some point. can anything make it a little easier?

medela's sleep nursing bra is super comfy and lightweight with no annoying tags to bother you while you sleep. it's machine washable and pretty durable and you can pull it on right over your head. the smart pull-back design allows for easy feeding and also holds nursing pads in place while you sleep. the 95% cotton 5% spandex material is breathable and stretchy and perfect now that we're entering the warm summer nights. i'd buy three to rotate in your lounge-wear repertoire.

medela's sleep nursing bra is so comfortable that at least your bra won't keep you from sleeping at night... although your baby may.

alex toys "talk of the tub"

2008-06-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

www.alextoys.us

as cole gets more and more aware of things, it seems he now demands to be entertained. no more lying on his back, staring at the ceiling - now there's always got to be something going on.

the nightly bath also is apparently not as fascinating as it used to be, despite all the awesome songs i sing and hilarious faces i make. i must not be as entertaining as i think i am. time for tub toys!

my mother-in-law got us this great little bath cell phone. alex toys makes an entire series of fun "rub a dub" tub toys for baby. we love "talk of the tub" - a little soft plastic cell phone that actually rings when wet. i don't know about your child, but mine is obsessed with phones. cell phones, cordless phones, television remote controls that look like phones - they're all fair game.

talk of the tub is cole's new favorite thing , since after all, he has lots of business calls to make from the bath before bedtime. what better way to multi task?

i play baby wear - sun & swim gear for baby

2008-06-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

www.iplaybabywear.com

it's officially summer, and by my estimation, it has been no less than 700° here in san francisco lately. damn global warming.

we took cole for his first "swim" at my folks' place a few weeks ago during the last heat wave and realized a few things. firstly, he needed a swimsuit. secondly, he inherited his mother's glow-in-the-dark pale skin and would need some serious sun protection.

i play baby wear makes just what you need for baby's summer outings. their hats come in many different styles and are made of UPF 50+ sun protective fabric, perfect for protecting baby's delicate face and neck. the hats are lightweight and water-resistant and come in a number of prints, just in case the one you happened to pick out has been deemed "dorky" by your husband.

i play baby wear also makes one- and two-piece "sunsuits" to protect your baby during a day out at the beach. made of i play's UPF 50+ nylon/spandex material, the sunsuits help save your baby with sensitive skin from the sun's harmful rays.

we also got cole i play's "ultimate swim diaper" for when daddy helped him zip around in the pool. with the ultimate swim diaper, no other diaper is necessary. it looks like a little speedo, but has a waterproof layer to prevent leakage and a patent pending design that helps contain, um, "accidents" both in and out of the pool. no more worrying about baby at the beach! the ultimate swim diaper is built into i play's entire basic swimwear line, including trunks, board shorts, sunsuits, bikinis tanksuits and even little baby tankinis.

thanks to i play, now your little one can be stylish and safe during those 3 martini playdates by the pool. welcome to summer!

carter's super duper sale!

2008-06-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

www.carters.com

i love carters. their clothes fulfill all of my requirements:

1) cute
2) cheap
3) hold up to multiple washings
4) easy sizing in 3 month increments for little ones

they make the best onesies and side-snap shirts for brand new babies (sorry, gerber, but your quality control sucks) and cole's closet is literally stocked with their footie pajamas. if only they came in adult size, i could wear them on weekends and..... oh, pardon me - i got distracted for a moment.

best of all, carter's stores have the most amazing sales if you can catch them - and you can!

shirts for $3.99? pj's for $5.99? two for one rompers? (because rompers are awesome, let me tell you!) and almost every thing in the store is on sale RIGHT NOW. that's right, time to stock up at carter's during what they appropriately call their super duper carter's sale.

warning: their website leaves, shall we say, a little bit to be desired. you're much better off going in person. so find a store near you with the carter's store locator and shop away!

kidco adhesive mount magnetic lock - no longer recommended!

2008-06-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: Kidco Starter Lock Set

* updated!*

we've now had these locks for almost a month, and have to admit defeat. first i managed to misplace the "key" (and am still hearing crap about it, thank you very much), then a few of them broke. i can no longer endorse them as-is. the locks may work better once they are screwed in, but we're currently down to 3 out of 5 still functioning. just fyi!

my mom came over the other day to visit, and as she watched my now 10 1/2 month old son crawl after my dog at the speed of light, she turned to me and remarked, "he's going to be a bandit."

thanks, mom.

the worst part? i think she's right. i turned away this morning for what i swear was one millisecond and he was across the room and throwing miscellaneous tchotchkes off the third shelf of my bookcase. time to lock the drawers!

what to use..... something ugly? something i'll have to screw in to my nice cabinets? something that will pinch little fingers trying to reach inside? a ha.... found it! kidco, one of the leading makers of child safety products, has created these ingenious cabinet locks that install without using a single tool. with kidco's adhesive mount magnetic locks, there are no unsightly tell-tale locks on the outside of your kitchen doors - also known as the parental equivalent of the visible panty line.

using a sturdy adhesive, one half of the lock sticks securely to the door frame and the other to the inside of the cabinet - invisible to the naked eye. a strong magnet "key" is held up to the cabinet door to unlock. sounds too good to be true? nope - it actually works and is surprisingly strong. not only can my son pull himself up on the cabinet door (not that i'm advocating this) without it budging, but it also seemed pretty supportive of me giving it a few strong tugs - and although i hate to admit it, i weigh a good deal more than my son.

the only downside to kidco's adhesive mount magnetic locks? making sure you don't misplace the magnet key. we stick ours to the refrigerator after every use to make sure we still have full access to the tupperware cabinet. you know, to get out our baby's "toys."

boobie tuesday! pillow wars: boppy vs. my brest friend

2008-06-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

www.boppy.com/
www.mybrestfriend.com/

when i was registering for my baby shower, one of the big debates i had was whether to get a boppy or a my brest friend. i never imagined the concern i would have trying to decide between two products that i'd never heard of before and had no idea what to do with.

after polling my friends, i registered for a boppy (which i got - thanks, jen!) and was all prepared to use it. until i got home from the hospital. two days later, my husband ran out and bought the my brest friend.

the boppy and the my brest friend are both breastfeeding support pillows. why do you need one of these, you may ask? try balancing a baby on your knee and keeping him at just the right height for nursing. for an hour. maybe more, if you're feeling dangerous. then try it again in the dark at 3:30 in the morning on two hours of sleep. now you understand.

the boppy (shown above) is a "c" shaped firm but puffy pillow that you can wrap around your waist or side for breastfeeding. it has a stretchy middle allowing it to conform to different body sizes and is soft enough for baby's head to rest on comfortably. it comes in a number of different fabrics and can even morph into its second life as support for your baby learning how to sit up. it's comfortable for mom to rest her arms on and lives on my sofa to this day.

the my brest friend nursing pillow (pictured right) is a flat, foam pillow that you can literally velcro or buckle around your waist to support baby while feeding. it's firm surface helps keep baby where you want him and it fits snugly so the pillow - and baby - don't slide around. a little pocket on the side can keep pacifiers or other necessities close at hand. it also comes in a number of fabrics as well as in an inflatable "travel" version to take with you wherever you may nurse.

long story short? i ended up using both of them. i thought the boppy was much easier when leaning back against a couch but the my brest friend was more helpful during feeds in the glider and especially in the middle of the night when, yes, i would fall asleep while feeding the baby.

got a vote one way or the other? please share in the comments!

new parent checklist by knock knock

2008-06-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

www.knockknock.biz

okay, the baby's waking up.... we've got 2 1/2 hours before he has to be home for his next nap. and off we go!

now all we have to do is feed him, change him, put him in "outdoor" clothes, pack a meal, pack a bottle, pack a bib, some cheerios, a sun hat in case it's sunny, a warm hat in case it's cold, a hoodie, a lightweight hoodie, a fuzzy heavyweight hoodie, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, bags to put dirty diapers in, extra socks, a spoon to eat with, a spoon to play with, toys, toys for the car, toys for wherever we're going, pacifiers, a blanket, a book, burp cloths, oh, and of course your house keys.

i'll admit it - one time i got 45 minutes away from my house, baby and dog in the car, when i realized that i had left my diaper bag at home. in my open breezeway. with my housekeys inside it. visible to all passers-by. that's why the "new parent checklist" from knock knock is a great gift for new moms and dads.

the "new parent checklist" is as useful as it is funny. categories like "nether regions" (diapers, changing pad) and "food" (formula, bottles, breasts) help ensure that you'll bring everything for baby, while lists such as "from your old life" (keys, cell phone, sunglasses) and "seemingly obvious" (diaper bag, stroller, baby, brain) will make sure you've got all your bases covered.

while you're at it, take a peek at knock knock's other cool stuff like babysitter checklists (titled "don't kill the kids") and couple's doorknob signs (including "not tonight i've got a headache," "don't forget what you're trying to remember" and "i took money out of your wallet - thanks a lot."

now that you've got your new parent checklist, are you ready to go? great. we now have five minutes to go to the park and get back in time for our son's nap.

sassy "who loves baby?" photo album

2008-06-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

my friend's mother in law lives out of town, and as my friend says, "she's desperately trying to imprint herself on my son. every time we see my mother in law, she leans over my son chanting 'it's your grandma! it's your grandma!' she is making me crazy."

save yourself from the it's-your-grandmas with this great product from sassy. the "who loves baby?" book is made of soft vinyl and designed to hold up to 6 pictures of family members or loved ones (or the family weiner dog) so that baby can learn who's who.

photos are safely ensconced in plastic to protect them from overeager droolers excited to see pictures of their daddies and the grip handle also serves as a teether. easy to clean pages mean that baby can drag "who loves baby?" to every mealtime and escape sparkly clean. what better and more delicious way to learn how popular you are?

philips LCD DECT digital baby monitor

2008-06-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Philips LCD DECT Digital Baby Monitor

if, like me, your baby's room is on another floor in the house, you're going to need a good baby monitor.

if, like me, you've stupidly chosen the Coldest Room in the Entire House for your baby's room, then it would be nice to know that your baby's not freezing at night.

and lastly, if, like me, you and your husband switch off on monitor duty and when it's your night you don't want to hear every teensy tiny itty bitty sighing noise that your baby makes - but still want the option to do so - then you need to get philips LCD digital baby monitor.

recommended to me by my neighbors, who carefully vet all their baby products, the philips baby monitor is excellent. the base in baby's room is not only highly sensitive, but can accurately measure the temperature. the handset allows you to remotely turn on music, talk to baby (if you dare) and display the temperature. you can adjust the sensitivity on the handset from "i want to hear every breath you take" to "i really only want to hear you if you're standing up in your crib and banging against the wall with your binky."

the philips baby monitor is amazing. you can turn the volume off, but set an alert to beep at you if baby gets too loud for comfort. you can set a temperature alarm, letting the monitor beep at you if baby's room gets too hot or cold according to temperatures you choose. it's crystal clear with a guaranteed no interference. and best of all, the range is up to 900 feet (yep, that's right!) or as i like to put it, far enough to put the monitor in your pocket and still walk your weiner dog halfway up the street. so go ahead! enjoy your (limited) freedom!

my dad rocks! (in a onesie)

2008-06-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: Rebel Ink My Dad Rocks Body Suit

father's day is sunday! where did that come from? holy moley. time to get a present - and fast.

fortunately, rebel ink's "my dad rocks" onesie is here! let your little one show dad just how much he's loved before the teenage years when your kid can't bear to be seen with you.

amazon.com, my go-to site, has a bunch of cute onesies that if you play your cards right might be able to be delivered by saturday, like this one and this one. (of course, if they're not here in time, dad will still love it a few days later. and will probably dress your dictator in it for every subsequent family outing. consider yourself warned.)

p.s. san francisco moms: want to get this in time for sunday? rebel ink's "my dad rocks" onesie is available at little fish boutique in west portal. happy shopping!

the rookie mom's handbook

2008-06-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

being a new mom is hard work. and not what a lot of us expect. (what? was it unrealistic to think that my son would put himself to bed every night?) sometimes moms wake up in the morning and think, "what the heck am i going to do today?"

the rookie mom's handbook has a list of 250 activities to do with - or without - your little dictator. designed exclusively for first-time moms, the handbook contains helpful tips like "7 reasons to leave the house each day, " which believe me - you may need at first.

the rookie mom's handbook is thoughtfully divided up into sections of what to do according to baby's age, from "taking baby steps" to " now we're cruising." suggestions range from getting in touch with mommy friends to venturing out to a baby-friendly movie.

as the authors say, sometimes as a new mom it's hard to think and you need to be told what to do. and they tell you.

teensygreen - think outside your playroom

2008-06-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

www.teensygreen.com

okay, you're a mom. and you worry about the earth and too many chemicals and what the world's going to be like when your little one grows up, but you're not exactly ready to start wearing birkenstocks or make your child's toys out of dirt and leaves. welcome to teensygreen!

we love teensygreen! teensygreen was started by a mom like you and me who was looking for a greener alternative to all the plastics and waste that finds its way into our family's daily lives. (fortunately for me, stefani, the creator of teensygreen, still likes little dictators..... i think.)

teensygreen strives to bring eco-friendly products and services to help parents make greener decisions for their kids. want info on eco-educational outings like san francisco's own ferry plaza farmer's market? need to know what eco-friendly products you should take on your next trip to the beach? how about where to find organic baby clothes and slings? teensygreen's the site to point you in the right direction.

teensygreen is a great resource for moms looking to "greenify" their lives and make earth-friendly decisions for their kids. as stefani says, think outside your playroom! visit teensygreen!

baby gund fire truck playset

2008-06-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com: Baby Gund Fire Truck Playset

aunt mackenzie came to visit this weekend and brought some cool stuff that i'll be writing about all week! she also has perfect timing, because i was starting to panic about cole's lack of things to play with. (i know. i'm crazy. our son has a toy bin the size of the taj mahal.)

the baby gund fire truck playset is AWESOME. i had been secretly coveting it for months, and now it's here! the plush firetruck zips open at the top to reveal surpises inside. a water bucket! a fire hydrant! a tiny fireman! a little spotted dalmatian - that barks when you squeeze him!

so far, cole's favorite is the rattle-y water bucket with its shiny top, followed closely by the finger puppet fireman with his smiling face and sassy fireman's hat.

josie weiner dog's favorite is, not surprisingly, the dalmatian, which she has already tried to steal numerous times. nice try, weiner dog. this one's for your brother.

fire trucks not your thing? baby gund also makes a school bus playset with two children, a book and a pencil (all plush, of course) and a police car playset complete with barking dog, finger puppet policeman, crinkly flashlight and megaphone with squeaker. which hopefully will be your child's only brush with the law.

innobaby packin' SMART formula dispenser and snack case

2008-06-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

now that cole's eating "real food" (if "real" food = cheerios, milk and smashed up peas), packing up for an outing is more, um, challenging than ever. and for my friends with formula-fed babies, schlepping around all that formula can be a real pain in the behind.

searching for a travel formula container for my friend, i came across innobaby's packin' smart formula dispenser and snack case. winner of iparenting media's best product 2007, the packin' smart case has five separate snap-together tiers in one convenient carry container.

innobaby's secure click design means no caps falling off, and the separate containers will ensure you can bring formula and finger foods without them ending up in one big pile of mush. each tier can hold up to 8 oz. of formula or 1/3 cup of tasty dried snacks. that's a lot of food for growing dictators. containers are even sized perfectly to store pacifiers in while you and your baby are out being fabulous.

the packin' SMART comes in a variety of sassy colors for those of you who pretend that how baby products look doesn't matter but secretly want things to look nice when they're trying to surreptitiously sneak cheerios to their tot at starbucks.

jj cole bundle me

2008-06-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

www.jjcoleusa.com

welcome to another one of my absolute favorite baby shower gifts and winner of our little dictators seal of approval!

i am crazy about jj cole's bundle me. better than a blanket, the bundle me acts as a little sleeping bag that you can fasten into baby's car seat, stroller or jogger. soft velcro openings allow safety straps to come through and baby to be securely fastened in.

although we have some blankets that i love, for running out and about, the bundle me is the best bet. it zips up the sides to keep baby snuggly warm and there are no loose ends to get tied up in your stroller wheels or closed in the car door by accident. (um..... not that this has ever happened to me. recently.)

the bundle me comes in three great and different warmths. the original has a plush shearling lining and soft fleece exterior. the urban has a rain-proof quilted outside with soft microsuede inside. the lite, which was my baby shower gift to my friends with spring babies, has the soft thickness of a summer blanket with sassy stiching on the outside.

for some crazy reason, i waited until cole was a few months old before investing in the bundle me. i kept thinking, "why spend the money when we have 100 different blankets?" but i was oh so wrong. for heading outdoors or even in the car, the bundle me is far superior and well worth the money. which is why every new mom i know gets one from me as a present.

after all, as i always say: why blanket when you can bundle me?

free doughnut day!

2008-06-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

www.krispykreme.com

happy friday, mommies!

you've worked hard. you made it all week by yourself, you fed your child and entertained him and even possibly managed to take a shower and eat a luna bar with your one free hand.

you deserve a reward! and apparently the good folks at krispy kreme agree with you. did you know that today is national doughnut day? (of course it is.) grab yourself a free glazed bit of deliciousness from your local krispy kreme. go ahead, you deserve it!

rich frog pull toys

2008-06-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.bambinomountain.com/

help! i need a gift for a birthday party/baby shower/first visit to a new mom friend! i want to take something cute, but not something too cute. and it should be well made, but not cost a fortune.

oh, and i'd also like something that's cool, with bright colors and personality, but not something that they're going to get from everyone. i will not be the bringer of baby's 17th blanket! i will be original!

oooh - found it! rich frog, how i love you. you make such cute, fun toys for babies from newborn up to toddlers. i love your bath toys just like everyone else does, but what i really love are your velour pull toys. rich frog, you make such creative pull toys, the likes of which i've never seen before. lovingly stiched out of soft velour with sweet smiles sewn on, you have everything from a pull duck and family to a frog, cow, pony and even dinosaur and friends like the one shown here!

hmmm. maybe i don't need to take a present to my friend. maybe instead i'll just pick up this rich frog pull velour puppy for my own son. who'll know, except all the people reading this? uh, oh.....

baby mum-mum crackers

2008-06-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

www.mummums.com/

starting your baby on solids, or "real food" is pretty exciting. or at least what passes for excitement when you have a baby.

at cole's 9 month doctor's appointment, his pediatrician suggested letting him learn to feed himself more. "let him try a spoon or a cup," she said.

now i'm adventurous, but not that adventurous. we had one afernoon of the Great Spoon Wrestling Match that ended up with both of us covered head to toe in mashed peas. so i thought we'd try something a little simpler.

one of the girls in my mom's group said her daughter loved these "baby mum-mum" crackers. i thought that was the worst name i'd ever heard. and not something i'd feel comfortable asking the grocer for out loud in front of hip childless singletons shopping for espresso and ennui.

but i was wrong! baby mum-mum crackers are rice based, gluten-, egg- and nut-free and melt easily in your little one's mouth. (and on their clothes, but that's another story.) they come individually wrapped two-to-a-package so you can cart them everywhere they go. baby mum-mum crackers are also just the right size for your little one to hold and feed himself.

a perfect "first cracker" for your little one AND no mashed peas in your hair? i'm sold, and so is my son. available at a number of stores nationwide including whole foods and mollie stone's. (for my san francisco mommies: i know for a fact they can be found at the mollie stone/tower market in diamond heights!)

boobie tuesday! the nursing mother's companion

2008-06-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.amazon.com/

another boobie tuesday = more nursing help for you!

today's help comes from kathleen huggins, registered nurse, certified lactation consultant and early childhood care specialist. "the nursing mother's companion" is a great resource for the new mom since, as kathleen huggins says, "breastfeeding may be natural, but it's not always instinctive."

truer words were never spoken!

since not everyone has a lactation consultant they can keep on call, "the nursing mother's companion" provides indispensable help for new moms who need a little advice on nursing. huggins provides tips at every stage of the game to help you out, for example, "what do i do when my child starts teething?" ouch.

one of the most useful parts is the unique drug index in the back of the book, helping advise you as to what drugs are safe to take while you're nursing. (here's a hint: tylenol is okay. crack cocaine is not.)

overall, "the nursing mother's companion" is a great gift for new moms and a good refresher for moms nursing the second time around.

monday mommysaver: infantino giggle ball toy set

2008-06-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

www.target.com

a sassy trio of fun toys for your little one in one convenient package? and all for less than $15? yes! infantino's giggle ball toy set is a wonderful gift for someone.... or your own little one.

three little toys offer three different ways of keeping your baby happy and busy. the crab rattle and giggle ball are for 3+ months and the bendy bug is for 6+ months. each makes different rattling sounds and captivates your baby with moving or wiggling parts.

the giggle ball has sliding beads and different textured surfaces for baby to explore. the bendy bug has moving rings, makes a soft rattling sound when shaken and has (according to my son) delicious antennae. the crab rattle with its wiggly legs and mirrored ball hands still travels with us in the car.

overall, infantino's giggle ball toy set offers a lot of bang for the buck, so now you can afford those tiny prada shoes your baby so desperately needs.

happiest baby on the block by harvey karp

2008-05-31T18:51:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

when i was pregnant and visiting my parents, their across the street neighbor came by to say hello and congratulations. she also happens to be an ob nurse.

"that's such great news! congratulations!" was the first thing she said.

"have you read 'happiest baby on the block'?" was the second.

she was the first, but she wouldn't be the last to recommend "the happiest baby on the block." i heard about this book from friends, family and even in my "newborn care" class.

people speak about harvey karp in reverential, hushed tones, and i was determined to figure out why. then i realized: it's because he is a god.

harvey karp, md, was one of the leading doctors to usher back in a generation of swaddled babies. calling the first three months of your baby's life "the fourth trimester" (accurately, i believe), dr. karp and "the happiest baby on the block" will help you to calm your little one using the 5 S's technique. i was advised to watch the dvd in addition to/instead of reading the book, which was a great suggestion, as it's one thing to read about these techniques and another to see them in action.

i'll admit, i was doubtful. and as if to punish for me for my doubt, my first born son was incredibly colicky. he cried so much one day as a newborn i called my husband at work and begged him to come home. we did get some relief, however, from the happiest baby on the block. whether playing white noise and shushing at a million decibels in my son's ear, wrapping him up tightly like a burrito or rocking him back and forth, the happiest baby on the block's tips at least helped my crying child not be the unhappiest baby on the block.

and for that, i am grateful. but not as grateful as i am that he is now sleeping through the night.

oswald

2008-05-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

www.noggin.com

i don't know about you, but nothing cheers me up like a blue octopus with a pet weiner dog. i stumbled upon oswald a few months back while trying to find some little-person-friendly programming on noggin, nickelodeon's youngest-skewing channel.

oswald is a gentle octopus voiced by fred savage (yes, that fred savage) who lives in whimsical town called big city with his pet hot dog, weenie. now, for those of you who think i only started watching this show because it has some semblance of a weiner dog in it..... you're right. but i fell in love watching the very first episode.

oswald is sweet without being cloying (sorry, wonderpets, but you drive me crazy) and teaches without being preachy (ugh, franklin, you are whiny macwhinestein). not only is oswald cute and friendly, but he also helps model positive responses to conflict, presents teamwork and working together and demonstrates characters taking turns and being polite.

now i'm not advocating television for tiny babies, but sometimes when cole gets hit with a case of the grumples, oswald is literally the only thing that will cheer him up - and i have to admit, i love watching it, too. the clever drawings (a bakery shaped like a giant cake) and tongue-in-cheek characters (a snowman drives the town ice cream truck) make it something i actually look forward to.

added bonus: think some of the characters on oswald sound familiar? henry, a persnickety penguin who's oswald's best friend is voiced by david lander, best known as laverne & shirley's squiggy. how could you not want to watch now? oswald and weenie and squiggy, oh my!

babycenter

2008-05-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

www.babycenter.com

my son is ten months old today! wow, that went fast. the last few months have been filled with so many milestones (crawling, teething, pulling up to stand, waving) that i have no idea what to expect next.

good thing there's babycenter. babycenter is a wealth of resources for moms and moms-to-be, with advice from getting pregnant all the way up to taking care of your "big kid." there are tons of articles by doctors and q&a sections on everything from breastfeeding to discipline.

my favorite part of babycenter is the timeline they provide for you and your growing baby. whether you're pregnant and want to know how your baby's developing in utero or a proud parent curious to know what to prepare for next, the babycenter timeline is both cool and helpful.

a simple sign-up with either your due date or child's birthday will automatically tell you what to expect from your little one in the upcoming weeks. example: i logged in this morning to the message, "cole is 10 months week 1: this week, watch out for flying sippy cups!" babycenter can send weekly emails for the first two years about baby’s development, and then periodically as baby reaches bigger milestones.

as my friend lisa says, "It was great to have as a working mom – with less time to read. This helped me look for cues around key developmental stages (i.e., ready for a cup, to use a fork, how to deal with stranger anxiety, sleep problems, you name it)."

well, i'm off to read about developing good speech patterns while dodging sippy cups. wish me luck.

*thanks to lisa for the heads-up!

music together

2008-05-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

www.musictogether.com

when cole was born, all my mom friends kept telling me about music together. "you have to go to the classes!" they chorused, "it's so much fun!"

"um... okay," i replied cautiously. i wasn't so sure. the only places i really sing are in the shower and in the car and i wasn't sure if i wanted to subject a room full of strangers to my grammatically incorrect version of "frère jacques."

as cole got a little older, i realized that maybe i didn't know as many children's songs as i thought i did. and that i ended up repeating only the chorus of the few songs i did know. and perhaps my son was tired of me singing the tootsie roll commercial theme song. and most of the children's music cd's made me want to pull my hair out. so i gave in.

i'm so glad i did! music together is an internationally known early childhood music program that offers music classes for kids from babies all the way up through kindergarteners and the grown-ups who serve them. classes are mixed ages and offer sing-a-longs, instruments to play, rhythm chants and, if your instructor is as nice as ours, a guitar for your little ones to touch and explore. you'll also get two cd's of fun music to take home so you can force your child to listen to your off-key rendition of the songs they just learned.

classes are offered nationwide - go to the music together website to find a class near you! soon, you too will know more than one song to sing to your child. ready? join in! oh, the world looks mighty good to me, 'cause tootsie rolls are all i see.....

boobie tuesday: lilypadz

2008-05-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

www.lilypadz.com

my best friend got married 8 weeks after my baby boy was born and my first thought was, "holy crap, how am i going to get my giant boobs into my matron-of-honor gown?"

my second thought was, "how am i going to handle not feeding my son for 6+ hours of picture taking, ceremony participating and reception dancing without springing a leak and totally embarrassing myself?"

answer: lilypadz. lilypadz call themselves "the alternative to traditional nursing pads" and that they are. lilypadz are made of silicone and have a unique, tacky lining so they adhere directly to your skin. they literally stop leakage by applying gentle pressure so you don't have to worry about unsightly leak marks all over your bridesmaid dress or other article of clothing.

lilypadz are safe to use overnight - you can even go swimming with them. with proper use and care, one pair of lilypadz can last you up to two months. so you have no excuse for not springing for a pair.

* thanks to rachel for the lilypadz reminder!

no post today.....

2008-05-26T19:50:00.001-07:00

.....sorry, kids, but we're all a little under the weather here at casa little dictator.

posts will be back up tomorrow!

little noses stuffy nose kit

2008-05-25T13:38:00.001-07:00

www.walgreens.com

bad news: it's not too late in the season for your baby to catch his or her first cold. we managed to make it 6 months cold-free, and then the sniffles arrived. i blame it on cole's doctor (a doctor!) who swore he was "no longer contagious." bastard.

we've managed to make it most of cole's almost-10-months without any major illnesses, but the sniffles are once again rearing their ugly head. and, naturally, since my son likes to stick his fingers in my mouth and fishhook me, i've got them, too.

so the only thing to do now is wait, drink tea (for me) and use little noses (for him). little noses saline drops and aspirator kit is the easy way to help your snuffy little baby feel better. the saline drops help loosen up stuffy little noses and the nasal aspirator will help suck out any yuckies, assuming your baby lets you get close enough to do so.

the little noses stuffy nose kit also came in particularly handy when we came home from the hospital and paid $9.99 to the emergency help line to report that our newborn sounded stuffy, only to have them tell us "newborns are stuffy." um, thanks.

bookplates from bookplate ink

2008-05-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

www.bookplateink.com

my mother studied early childhood education, and as a result always gives books as baby presents at showers and birthday parties. now, naturally, so do i.

but as babies get older and amass a larger library, it's nice to personalize things either for your own collection or to help keep track of "library loans" to friends.

bookplate ink makes custom bookplates to put on the inside of your little one's books (or yours!). many of their black and white designs may look familiar - they use classic, hard-to-find 1930s designs from the Antioch Bookplate Company. bookplate ink also carries whimsical color bookplates in many different styles. we love the japanese woodblock inspired waves (shown) for something cool and a little different.

bookplate ink will also make custom bookplates exactly to your liking - that's right, you can submit your own artwork and work with their designers to get exactly what you want. if you're looking for a unique shower gift or something to give your future academic, personalized bookplates are the way to go.

a public apology to my husband

2008-05-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

some of you may have read my post about "porn for new moms," and one of the people that read that post was my husband.

my husband, who promptly wrote me an e-mail saying, "You already have 'a good looking man smiling and holding babies and writing thank-you notes and folding laundry.' Why the *sigh*?"

i apologize.

he is right.

my husband is a great father, always reading books out loud and walking the dog at night and folding the laundry and buying kiehl's baby wash for our little dictator and, quite frankly, doing much more housekeeping than i personally care to do.

so here's to you, honey. i'm sorry. and please consider this your father's day present. :)

i love my daddy lion by baby gund

2008-05-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

www.lullabylane.com

father's day is coming up just around the corner, and what better way to say "happy father's day" than this little lion from baby gund.

the hugs and kisses collection from baby gund has soft plushy toys with different representations of family love on them.... a giraffe with "i love my grandpa," a hippo with "i love my grandma," a pink elephant with "i love my mommy" and, of course, the "i love my daddy" lion.

the collection also comes with matching rattles for each animal, so that you can expand your little family.

all features are sewn on and baby-safe, and i predict your husband will love it just as much as your baby does.

good night, gorilla by peggy rathmann

2008-05-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

board books are great for little ones who are learning to appreciate being read their favorite stories, and "good night, gorilla" is one of my absolute favorites.

almost every baby i know has a copy of "good night, gorilla" in their baby book arsenal. peggy rathman has come up with a wonderful story about a gorilla who sneakily helps his fellow animals out of their cages to go sleep in the zookeeper's house.

rathmann's whimsical illustrations and amazing attention to detail will keep your little one captivated, as they discover the stuffed babar in the elephant's cage, the toy ernie in the armadillo's home and the little mouse that drags a banana throughout the entire book for the gorilla.

cole's favorite part is when the zookeeper's wife discovers the gorilla in her bed. rathmann's rendering of her shock and surprise is fantastic - he laughs every single time we see it. "good night, gorilla" is an absolute must for your baby's library.

mommy's helper Safe-Plate™

2008-05-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

it's so exciting when your little one starts to crawl! one day they're just sitting quietly, the next they're zooming across the floor. and trying to pull up on things. and discovering outlets.

before you run out and spend $1,500 for a baby proofer to come to your house (oh yeah, they'll charge you that much), get a few basics down pat. put cords out of sight, move that sharp-edged coffee table and get new outlet covers.

mommy's helper makes the safe-plate, an electric outlet plate that screws into place easily with just one screw. spring loaded sliding doors mean it's easy for you to plug something in, but snap shut when not in use. the safe-plate outlets stay closed tight when you don't need them and keep prying fingers safe.

make this one thing you can cross off of your baby proofing list - pick up a batch of safe-plates and get to installing!

boobie tuesday! motherlove nipple cream

2008-05-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

www.motherlove.com

things i never thought i'd say, especially with any frequency:
1. poopy diapies
2. breast pump
3. boobie tuesday
4. nipple cream

how one's life changes after having a baby....... things will never be the same.

in the meantime, you still need some extra tlc while you're breastfeeding, especially if you're having a hard time. a difficult latch often leads to tender, sore nipples and that lansinoh cream, while effective, feels like rubber cement.

motherlove makes organic, natural herbal products that support breastfeeding. motherlove was founded in 1990 to provide new moms with herbal personal care and supplements specifically designed for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

the motherlove nipple cream is formulated especially for sore, cracked nursing nipples and unlike lanolin, has a smooth, creamy feel. its all natural ingredients, including olive oil and shea butter, mean it's safe for ingestion and doesn't have to be washed off prior to breastfeeding.

added bonus: when you no longer need to use the nipple cream for its intended purpose, i've discovered that it makes an excellent cuticle cream! no need for leftovers to go to waste and definitely earns our little dictators seal of approval.

porn for new moms

2008-05-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

do you ever wish your husband would tell you how sexy you look in your sweatpants?

what if he said something like, "don't worry, honey. your mother and i will take wonderful care of the baby while you and your girlfriends are at the spa."

either you've stepped into a parallel universe or you're reading "porn for new moms." at least three of my girlfriends have told me about this book and i wish i'd come up with the idea myself!

if you don't find this book entertaining, you obviously don't have children. because otherwise there's no way you wouldn't appreciate it. pages of good looking men smiling and holding babies and writing thank-you notes and folding laundry. *sigh*

maybe you're imaging your shirtless spouse drawing a warm bubble bath for you and offering a glass of wine while murmuring, "I poured your bath, and here's a glass of Chardonnay. And don't worry - even if it gets into the breastmilk, it'll just help him fall asleep later."

yeah, you're definitely in a parallel universe.

aden + anais muslin baby wraps

2008-05-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

www.adenandanais.com

i don't know about where you live, but here in foggy san francisco it has been uncharacteristically, scorchingly, stiflingly hot. (okay, it's all relative, but trust me: in a city with no air conditioning, it's pretty effing hot.)

it's this type of heat that causes me to call every mom friend i know and have the following conversation:

me: it's so hot.
mom friend: blaaaargh. i'm melting my baby.
me: me too. what is your baby wearing to sleep?
mf: i have NO idea. it's soooooo haaaaaaawwwt.
me: ugh. my baby is going to melt in the middle of the night. haaaaaawt.

and so on.

aden + anais baby wraps are made of lightweight cotton muslin. their unique fabric is both light and stretchy, snuggly and soft. aden + anais wraps are also large enough to actually swaddle your baby when they're bigger than 4 days old, unlike some other swaddle blankets.

aden + anais' wide assortment of wraps and blankets provide moms with something for every occasion - a summer coverup for babies on the go, a breathable summer swaddle, an airy sunshade for tykes in their strollers.....it's the perfect addition to your overflowing "on-the-go" kit for warm weather outings.

thanks to debbie and little asher for the heads up!

via toy box sale - ends sunday 5/18!

2008-05-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

www.viatoybox.com

you may remember how much i love via toy boxes from one of my very first posts, and now, they're having a sale!

you can save up to 30% off AND get free shipping from via toy box if you order by tomorrow.

via toy boxes are beautifully constructed, well made storage for your little one's room with mix n'match fronts in different colors and shapes. they can be arranged in any way you like. want shelves for books? more shelves? how about round openings for stuffed animals? perhaps more boxes with doors so you can hide miscellaneous toys or the ones that make endless noise? done!

we never fail to get compliments on the via toy boxes we have in cole's room. they're cute, easy to put together and best of all, made of renewable materials. so really, you're doing wonderful things for the earth when you purchase via toy boxes for your child.

storksak diaper bags

2008-05-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

www.storksak.net

i have diaper bag envy. don't get me wrong, i like mine, but i really like my friend jen's.

jen and her son came over the other day and she was carrying the cutest purse. i haven't carried a purse in a year, since i always need to be traveling with diapers, a bottle, snacks, an emergency clothes change, a baseball hat in case it's hot, a fuzzy hat in case it's cold, toys, extra socks and ten thousand other things my son may need but almost never does.

turns out she wasn't carrying a purse, either! storksak makes some of the best looking diaper bags i've ever seen. storksak bags aren't cheap, but at $150-$200 they fall in the "i can afford to buy this because i'll be using it every single day of my life" range. storksaks are well made, with a wipe-clean lining, padded changing mat, multiple pockets for keys, clothes and toys and thermo-insulated bottle pockets to keep bottles warm or cool for up to four hours. whew!

want to invest? storksak can provide you with a diaper bag so cute, you'll want to carry it around town even when you're by yourself! if that ever happens.

quiet loud by leslie patricelli

2008-05-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

www.amazon.com

we've been doing a lot of reading in our house lately now that cole is transitioning from eating books to actually listening when i read them out loud.

i am absolutely in love with leslie particelli's board books. her illustrations are perfect, featuring a wide-eyed toddler who acts out each set of opposites throughout the book. the bright colors, clever drawings and clean lines will quickly engage your little one as you demonstrate things like "birds are quiet - airplanes are loud."

the favorite in our house? "fishies are quiet - doggies are loud," which shows a barking dog and a toddler putting his fingers in his ears.

apparently leslie patricelli could see in the windows of my house when she was illustrating this book, because in my house, doggies are very, very loud.

alphabet 'n numbers foam puzzle mat

2008-05-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

www.rightstart.org

dear alphabet 'n numbers foam puzzle mat,

i owe you a serious apology. i'm so sorry i knocked you in that post i put up last week. i may have mentioned you weren't as cute as some other foam mats. i also may have said something about never wanting you in my house. i'll admit it out loud for everyone to hear: i was wrong.

forgive me, baby. i didn't realize how affordable you were. i didn't appreciate your a-z alphabet letters and 0-9 multicolored numbers. i didn't realize that you were so soft and squishy. you proved me wrong.

you're generously sized and cover up to 36 square feet. you fit perfectly in my living room, much to my simultaneous delight and chagrin. your bright colors are endearing. my husband likes you better than "that other one - why is it so expensive, anyway?" and my dog is oddly drawn to you.

so why don't you let me make it up to you and take you out to a nice dinner, alphabet'n numbers foam puzzle mat. you know i love you.

boobie tuesday! lansinoh breastmilk storage bags

2008-05-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

www.lansinoh.com

what's in your freezer? ice cubes? vodka? lean cuisine mac n'cheese? how about breastmilk?

odds are these days it's the latter, with a high possibility of the second-to-latter. (i'll say a 50/50 chance for the ice cubes and 3% chance for the vodka, unless it's been in there for 1+ years.)

if you got the medela pump-in-style like me (which i recommend), you probably also gravitated towards the medela milk storage bags..... at first. but after a few tries, i discovered that the bag shape was weird and they didn't work for me the way i wanted them to. i got a sample of lansinoh's breastmilk storage bags for free when i bought their nursing pads, so i figured what the hell, i'd try them out.

the lansinoh storage bags are far superior to other brands. they're 100% Bisphenol-A (BPA) free, have a double zipper enclosure (think sturdy ziploc bags), they have an easy write-on tab for the date. they can be laid flat in your freezer for optimal storage and subsequent thawing.

in fact, we like lansinoh's breastmilk storage bags so much that we're awarding them with our little dictators seal of approval - something we reserve for products we feel stand out in their field. woo hoo!

lansinoh bags can be found at target, among other places, so store away!

monday mommysaver: lil' playzone with lights and sound

2008-05-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

www.rightstart.com

remember before you had kids? it's tough, i know. but if you think very hard, you can remember what it was like to have a living room with freshly cut flowers instead of linking rings, squeaky things and pacifiers littering the floor. these were the times when my husband and i would go to visit our friends with kids and smugly look at each other thinking, "oh, our house will never look like this."

think again, sucker!

i am now the proud owner of a lil' playzone with lights and sound, sitting squarely in my living room and i. couldn't. be. happier.
no, seriously. this thing is AWESOME.

even though my mom thinks it looks like the ok corral, and my childless friends will think it's a plastic monstrosity, the lil' playzone is fantastic. the lil' playzone measures 46"x46" - big enough for your little dictator, you, and a weiner dog, should you have one. and at 23" tall, it's the perfect height for your child who's just learning to pull up and stand on his own.

the lil' playzone has one panel with built-in toys (no assembly required), including a play phone, a mirror, a little slidey door and buttons to push that light up and play music. the playard is so easy to assemble that it took less than five minutes to put the whole thing together. you now have somewhere to put your mobile child while you run into the kitchen and get their lunch ready. we couldn't even get cole out of it! every time we out him on the living room floor, he'd turn around and crawl right back into the playzone.

in fact, the playzone is such a big hit in my house that i'm breaking my own rule and including a picture of my little dictators having a blast with it. ta da!

happy mother's day!

2008-05-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

no products today - just want to wish all you mommies a kick-ass mother's day.

moms are the hardest working people i know.

we take care of our children, our pets and our husbands (hmmm.... probably in that order) and put ourselves last.

we use silly voices and put on puppet shows and read out loud s-l-o-w-l-y and sing the alphabet song ten million times and chase children around the house and take thousands of pictures for posterity and do all of this with mashed banana in our hair.

we kiss babies and boo-boos (and husbands) and can drive (safely!) while simultaneously watching our child in the rearview mirror.

our living rooms now look like a babies r us warehouse sale, our floors are covered in blankets, our clothes are covered in spit-up and we still wouldn't have it any other way.

hope all you ladies have the wonderful mother's day you deserve.

happy mother's day!

right start!

2008-05-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

www.rightstart.com

i've decided now that cole is crawling around all over the place that it's time for a Toy Run. you know the Toy Run, right? it's those times every few months when you're convinced that your child is bored with all their toys, even if it really means that you're bored with playing with the same toys over and over and over again.

in all honesty, there are times when your baby goes through developmental changes (starting from looking at things, to then grabbing things, to then throwing things, to then chasing your poor dog around the house, etc.) and they do need a few new toys to help keep themselves challenged and entertained.

but it's not a trip to dante's 7th circle of hell (a.k.a. babies r us) for us! nope - we're going to right start. right start has 33 stores nationwide (for my bay area mommies, there's a right start in palo alto, walnut creek and san francisco). right start is the largest national specialty retailer of juvenile products for infants and young children. they have a great selection of carefully tested and reviewed toys for newborns to toddlers.

and for you mommies who don't have a right start nearby, they have a fabulous, easy-to-navigate website for all your baby needs. they also have a great registry for your mommy-to-be friends! be sure to look for their eco-friendly line separated out on their website for your little environmentalist.