no throw: bottle holder for babies on the go

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!!!

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?

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

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

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

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

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:

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


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


3. 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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.