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!

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...

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!

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.

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.

bay area discovery museum

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!

wheely bug

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.