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.

skip hop pronto mini changer

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.

alex toys "talk of the tub"

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?

3 marthas hooded towels

www.onceuponatimebaby.com

i swore i would never incorporate a bath into cole's bedtime routine. i didn't want the hassle of wrestling a cute but dripping wet baby into bed every single night.

well, i totally lost that battle.

we got a few baby towels as gifts, but one stands out above the rest: 3 marthas hooded baby towel. yes, you do really need a towel with a hood. this towel has a nice fuzzy hood, but the best part about it is its size. most baby towels are teeny and not absorbent with a weenie little hood sewn on as an afterthought.

3 marthas is a generously "real-sized" towel with a nice fluffy texture. it's the best to snuggle wet babies in, especially as they get bigger. now if only i could find a hooded towel for myself.

divas and dudes bibs

www.divasanddudesbycruz.com

when i asked my cousin (whose son is 8 months older than my son) for recommendations on bibs, she said, "they all suck."

which for the most part is true.

but divas and dudes makes bibs that actually stay on! and cover more than one inch of your baby! and aren't shirt-ruining sponges! and are cute! bibs come in a variety of retro patterns and sassy prints, like sushi menu, cupcakes and seersucker with skulls for your bad-ass baby.

available online and at nordstrom, among other places.

kiehl's baby wash

www.kiehls.com

do you really need to spend $20 on baby wash? probably not. but if you do, spend it on kiehl’s.

kiehl’s baby products are pediatrician-tested for sensitivity and allergies, so they're safe for even the most delicate of little tushies. most importantly, kiehl's baby washes smell g-r-e-a-t! and if you’ve incorporated the bath into your bedtime routine, like me, then you want to make sure you’re using something you don’t mind smelling every single day.

baby wash comes in two formulas: "gentle cleansing milk," which soothes and moisturizes dry baby skin, and "gentle foaming hair and body wash," which pumps right out into a foam – so easy, even your husband could do it!

rubis baby nail scissors

www.swissknifeshop.com

have you ever cut a baby's fingernails? no? you should - it's AWESOME! between your little guy squirming around and deciding he hates you to being terrified that you're going to cut your baby's fingers off, it's quite an experience. what could be better?

we got ten million pair of "specially designed baby fingernail clippers." they all sucked. the pair with the magic finger guard, the pair with the built in magnifying glass that even my engineer husband didn't know how to use..... each pair left me more terrified than the last.

to help make it easier, use rubis' baby nail scissors. they come in a cute little elephant case so they look innocuous and have soft, rounded tips to protect inquisitive fingers. the blades have a slight curve, making cutting baby's nails quick and easy. and unlike nail clippers, you can actually see what you're doing!

the blades on the scissors are sharp enough so you only have to cut once, but the blunt ends help you worry less about poking your darling little angel. they're not cheap, but trust me - they're worth every penny. my advice? buy them up front. it'll be better than the ten pair of clippers you'll be throwing out. because once you use rubis' baby nail scissors, there's no going back.