Products I Love For My Kids Pt. 4

1.) Juice Box Holder

I've been wanting one of these for some time now.  I bought 2 Dwink holders but there are various other brands out there that probably work just as well.

It is seemingly impossible for little ones to hold a drink box without squeezing it.  My old method was making my daughter keep her hands off until I got the straw in her mouth, thus catching that first squeeze.  In the car, this was not an easy task.  So this will save me some laundry issues and some frustrations.





 2.) Ziploc Divided Rectangle Container

There are a lot of fancy lunch containers with divided sections.  Often labeled or marketed toward Mom's sending their kids to school with lunch, they are trendy for the "green" movement.  Unfortunately they are also pretty pricey ranging from $15-$40 for one box.  My kids don't need fancy at this point or even something of their own choosing.  Instead, I need easy options with few pieces and dishwasher safe.

I was picking up some plastic freezer bags and saw these in that aisle.  They come in a 2 pack so it can work for more than one lunch or for one in the wash one in the diaper bag.  The large section is big enough for 2 sandwiches (not huge loaded ones, but like PB & J for the kids.) The 2 small side compartments are good for fruit or veggies and a treat or crackers.  I've also used the main compartment for miscellaneous foods like string cheese and fruit snacks and a small ice pack for a morning at the park when hand held food is needed. These are easy to clean and don't leak (so far) and best of all if they break or I need more its not a big investment. Find these in the plastic bag aisle of your local supermarket or Target/Walmart type store for about $3 for 2.

3.) Annie's Food/Snack Products





This line of crackers, snacks, and meals like macaroni and cheese is great.   I'm not super strict about organic stuff in general.  I cook most of the food my kids eat rather than buy pre-made stuff.  But there are times when snacks and easy foods are great options.  The problem is most of these foods are just loaded with weird stuff and with salt and sugar.  Annie's has Natural & Organic options that are made with real food ingredients and they taste good too.  My daughter loves the mac and cheese or shells and cheese mixed with frozen peas that are cooked in the noodles the last minute or two.

Products I Love for My Kids Part 3

1.) Soilove

I don't know what it's made of but by the smell of it, it is not organic or fancy or anything that people love to use.  It is however really inexpensive and really effective.  You can find this at the 99 cent store or the grocery store for under $2.  It is one of the only things that I have found works on baby poop (you know the absurdly yellow stuff that blows out of their diaper on so many cute clothes for the first 5 months.)   Other than this product the only thing I have found that works is laying the offending stain in the sun before washing it and sometimes that is just not convenient.

So instead I squirt some of this on the stain immediately and wash as soon as I can and IT WORKS so I don't ask too many questions about how or why.  I am just happy that it does the job.

2.) Take N Toss Straw cups and sippy cups.

 
 I really like the straw cups with a disposable bendy straw instead of the actual straw.  Those plastic straws are nuts to clean.  My daughter never used a bottle and went straight into sippys and straws.

3.) Sterlite Small Storage containers

These come in several sizes and are great for holding toy sets or small toys that don't come with a container.  They are stackable and easy for my toddler to carry and open/close.  I believe there are different brands (maybe Rubbermaid) that have similar containers.  The parts that make this great are: the see through box so you know what's in it, the locking top so things don't spill out if its dropped or knocked over, the handle on top so its easily portable around the house, and of course the ability to stack in a closet or bookshelf. 

What works when feeding toddlers/babies

Between about 12 months to 4 years old (and maybe further) kids are figuring out food and can be pretty picky sometimes.  I have been blessed with a daughter who will eat ANYTHING and likes almost everything, but there are still tried and true foods that she will always want and hardly put up any argument to eat plus they are usually easy and portable.

1.) CHEESE

This includes just plain cheese slices, string cheese, or cheese chunks.  Also, cheese as an accessory.  Put some cheese on anything and it is more appealing and more fun.  If a kid is wary of something...try it with some cheese.

2.) Quesadilla

This would appear to be an extension of #1, but it is a different category.  I keep soft taco sized wheat tortillas in the fridge and ALWAYS have some sort of shredded cheese in there too.  You can put anything in a quesadilla and 1.) it follows the cheese rule and 2.) its instant utensil-free finger food.  It's also a portable and a fun option when sandwiches are getting old.  I put veggies in it, turkey, chicken, a layer of mashed beans, whatever I have or just cheese and my girl will happily eat it.

3.) Peanut butter.

Here you will get some people cringing about allergies or sugar.  You can find "natural" peanut butter with no crazy extra ingredients and not much sugar.  Also, there are other nut butters and seed butters you can find in most stores or health stores.   Peanut butter is easy and portable and can mix with a lot of flavors in a sandwich or as a dip.  Make sure your child can chew well and swallow...at 12 months just a small thin spread on a piece of toast is enough so it won't be too sticky and become a hazard.

4.) "Lunchables"

Not the actual ones, but your own versions.  If you are out and about, cut up everything in a plastic container put in some whole grain crackers and let the kids eat like that.  Its not a good meal on the move (in the car or stroller) but it works at a park where you can sit and enjoy the day for a bit.

5.) Muffin Tin Meals

The concept here is to separate components of a meal into muffin tins, sort of like a lunchable, but with more options.  This can be meats, cheeses, veggies fruit, sauce, and even a treat.   The more colorful and fun it looks the more they will want to eat and be willing to try.  This is more of an at home meal than a portable one, but it works well as an indoor "picnic" or when you just don't have time to make anything, throw a bunch of stuff in and it looks fun.

6.) Cookie cutters/Sandwich cutters.

My daughter will eat any sandwich if it is in a fun shape.  There are sandwich cutters as well as just regular cookie cutters that work for this.  The sandwich cutters leave less waste for actual sandwiches and save time cutting off crusts.

7.) Smoothies

These are not always convenient to make but they seem like a treat and have a ton of nutrients.  Put in some plain yogurt, berries, bananas, etc. and you have a pretty good breakfast or lunch.   This is best when kids can suck through a straw or drink from a cup but you could do a thick one and use a spoon too.  I've also seen people make smoothie Popsicle and its almost as good as ice cream.  It's also a good option when kids are sick and need to eat but don't want solids.

8.) Noodles (pasta)

Especially finger food type shapes (bow tie, rotini, penne, rigatoni, fiori)  When they are really little, ct them into reaaly small pieces.  Later when they ae adept at chewing enough before they swallow, let the kids at it.  Expect a mess but this was one of the first foods my daughter gladly fed herself.  If you have kids, you know that it takes at least half an hour of frustrated feeding to get them all done.  When she was able to feed herself, I was able to eat my dinner with her, or clean up a little while she sat in the high chair.  Just be prepared with wipes or a wet wash cloth to wipe them down afterwards.

9.) Naked Eating and Eating Shirts

Did I mention, any messy foods would usually be eaten naked if possible?  If we are at home, it's the easiest way to avoid ruining a ton of clothes.  Another option is to have "eating shirts"  basically a tshirt that is too big and not really fashionable (we got ours from a summer reading program that only had kid sizes not toddler/baby sizes) and it can be slipped over their whole outfit or just over their bodies and thrown in the wash .  You can get some at the Dollar store too and make em cute if you want.  After kids start self feeding, bibs just don't cut it.  Food will end up from head to knees and in all cracks and crevices so much more protection and coverage is needed.  You can also never let your kid feed themselves but then you will never be free to do anything...ever again.

10.) Hide the "good" stuff (or actually the bad stuff)

For as long as possible avoid things like chicken nuggets, fries, soda, anything super sweet or super salty.  Don't dress food with extra sauces if you don't need to.  Most food is tasty on its own (sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, fruit etc.)  and it does not need anything added.  My daughter likes hamburgers and I know its not the best option overall as a food but if we go out she will get a small burger with no mayo, no fries, and water or a very small juice box.  I know if you are a new and "informed" parent you are thinking there is no way you would give your kid bad foods.  Well when you are running errands and your toddler is hungry but you forgot to pack something suitable or you ran later than you thought, those drive thru's are hard to resist.  You can usually get away with something less evil if you do a little research ahead.  Jack in the Box has grilled chicken strips, a plain hamburger isn't too bad and has a lot of protein, most places have a grilled cheese option (though it will be really cheesy and kind of greasy.)

Porridge

Isabella likes the idea of porridge more than oatmeal.  I made a Quinoa version and I played with it and did an easy oatmeal version.  It is REALLY tasty and all of us really like it.  It almost doesn't seem like a meal but like a treat.

Serves 1 toddler and 2 adults (adjust accordingly)
I would say 4 servings if you had fruit or toast on the side.

2 cups plain oats
2 tbsp quinoa (optional)
1 1/4 c water
1 c milk
1tsp pumpkin pie spice
a little bit of vanilla extract (forgot to measure)
1 tbsp butter
a pinch of salt
3 tbsp sugar (or less to taste, honey or maple syrup are other options)
raisins or other dried fruit (optional)

1) bring liquids just to a boil in a pot.
2) add oats, quinoa, spices, and sugar. Mix
3) bring back to a boil, turn down to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
4) add butter and let sit for 5 minutes.
5) stir and serve with raisins (unless like my husband you prefer no raisins.)

Cheap and Easy, Travel Bed Rail.

Do you have a toddler who doesn't fit in a play yard anymore? Or perhaps you co sleep and can't bring all the comforts of home on your trip.  Well I found a solution.

POOL NOODLES!!!

I can't take credit for this idea.  I read it on an online message board but it was too good and easy not to try.

First, buy 1 or 2 pool noodles for each bed you will use it on.
Next place the pool noodle under the fitted sheet just at the edge of the mattress.

Now tuck the sheet in tight under the mattress so it won't shift.  I added the flat sheet too so I could tuck it more since my daughter doesn't really sleep with a sheet yet.

After the bed is all made it makes a really simple bed rail so your child won't roll off the bed.  We set the fold out bed in our cabin against the wall so we only needed one noodle.

I don't have pictures of the other use because the explanation is the same.  If you co sleep use the noodle in your bed (at home or traveling) so you don't have to worry about the baby rolling off the edge.  Also for an infant, this is great to have in the trunk of your car.  You would only need half a noodle or two halves.  Keep them there and when you stop by a friends or a relatives and need to give your infant a nap you can make a safe little space so they won't roll off the bed and you don't have to haul the pack and play to those short day trips.***NOTE: If you are putting a child under the age of 1 on a bed please keep the area clear of blankets and pillows.  Using the noodles as a bed rail can leave a place for a baby to suffocate if there is too much fabric.  Check on your baby regularly if you do this. ( I realized after posting that since this is public there usually needs to be these disclaimers for those of us that may need them.)


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Products I Love for My Kids Part 2

1.) Crane brand Cool Mist Humidifier






This is one of those items that you know you will need but some how no one gets it for your baby shower.  Its not "gifty" enough or "cutesy" enough I guess.  But you will need it and when you do you will not want to have to go searching for one during cold season.

I have not tried out a bunch of these, just this one but I like it for several reasons.  1.) It is decorative (sort of) and cute.  2.) The trunk helps to direct the flow of the vapor. 3.) It is reasonably priced at around $35, in my opinion, for an item that will be used several times throughout the baby, toddler, and preschool years and maybe beyond.  Also, if you have a child with eczema or dry skin humidifiers are recommended and might be used for a whole season.

2.) A Basic Play Yard

I know there are AWESOME play yards with various features and attachments.  Here is the thing, I have huge kids.   All of those extra attachments would be useful for about 1-2 months for me.  Seeing that those ultra cool, decorative, battery powered playyards can run into the $200 range, while a basic one runs closer to $60-$70 I am saving over $100 by not getting all the fancy stuff.  Given that play yard sheets cost around $6-$10 bucks each as well (and I would make them if I had the time) the extra saved $ makes me feel less bad about buying a couple nice padded sheets that are super soft.

3.)Baby Medicine syringe.
 

This comes in a set but the syringe part is the best.   I don't know if this is the brand I get but I find mine at Walmart in the medical section near the thermometers.  Focus on the middle syringe and topper.  That bottle topper fits any sized medicine bottle and does double duty.  First, it makes for easy mess free measurements of the meds.  Second, and this is my favorite part, it allows you to get the meds out without sticking the dropper into the medicine bottle which contaminates the whole bottle with saliva or with whatever illness your baby has.  I want to get several of these syringes for the different types of meds my kids take so I don't have to deal with those dang droppers.  Also the syringe doesn't drip out the medicine like a dropper does so you have more control when getting it in a wiggling kid's mouth.

Products to pass on. Part 1

As I have some favorites I also have some products that haven't worked so well for me.

1.) Any snack container that was "spill proof".

If it was meant to trap food in while letting your kid get food out I tried it and my daughter found a way to prove the claims wrong.  The flaps they put on the lids bothered her.  She didn't like the way they felt.  But she still wanted the food.  She would start by shaking it and food would fly out if she shook hard enough or at the right angle. If that didn't work or wasn't fast enough, she would work on prying off the lid. 

Let's assume my daughter is just your average monkey of a kid (not the genius I assume she is).  If one kid trying these stack containers out between 10-24 months can do this, I would think there are others out there that can too.  So for $3-$10 that it costs for one of these "magic" containers, its not worth it. 

I got some cute flip top ones from the dollar store and they have worked best because they are easy to get into and easy to close, and I really don't care if they get scratched or dented because they are only $1.

2.)  Teethers

Sadly, I haven't given up the search for the perfect teether.  So far though, everything I have tried has not served its purpose.  Anything specifically meant to be used to chew, gnaw, and drool on, held no interest for my daughter.  She would much rather go after board books, soft training spoons, hair brush handles, medicine droppers (the rubber part), blankets, other toys, and so on.

My 4 month old son is now teething and I have excitedly brought out all the paraphernalia I could find and I have even added to the collection.  I have not given up hope that these will all work for him, but the realistic side of me knows he will probably end up chewing on one of his sisters dolls or on some random household object rather than the wonderfully designed, BPA free thingamabobs that were purchased for the sole purpose of relieving his teething discomfort.

3.) The Infant Car Seat/Carrier

This one isn't really the product's fault at all. I actually love my seat and the stroller it came with.  The problem is one of genetics.  My kids have been above average in size from day 1.  My daughter was born at 8 pounds 13 ounces and my son was 9 pounds 3 ounces.  At that point they already didn't fit in newborn sized clothing and newborn diapers lasted a week.  So the infant car seat that we got with our travel system is supposed to last the baby's first year (in theory anyway.)  The weight limit is 22 lbs and the height limit is 30 inches.  My daughter was 20 lbs at 6 months and my son is on his way to meeting or beating that weight by then.  So we had to invest in a convertable seat for my daughter at around 5  months when their was a sale.  We just did the same for our 4 month old in anticipation of having to change his seat soon.

As for the "carrier" feature. Yeah right, is all I have to say.  Those seats weigh about 8-10 pounds on their own.  Sticking an 8-10 pound baby in with it made it ridiculous to carry.  It got worse when both kids were 15 lbs by 2 months old.  I, for one, am not fond of lugging around almost 25 lbs of awkward weight with a packed diaper bag and a 2 year old in tow.

The good news is about a year after we bought our system companies started making seats with higher limits, but the carrier will still not be convenient what-so-ever if you have a big, heavy baby.  Keep that in mind before spending $200-$300 on a travel system. You will have to invest in a convertible seat that will last up to 65 lbs at some point and it would be good to have a baby carrier like an Ergo or a Beco Butterfly II, which will both last through about 2 years or 35 lbs.

Cool Summer Chicken Wraps

I made this for a couple reasons. 1) I wanted to make hummus and needed a reason to use it 2.) It was hot and I didn't want to cook anything.  So out of desperation with a fussy (possibly teething) baby and a ever busy 2 year old I could make this in between the craziness of the day. We all loved it!

Ingredients
hummus either store bought or use this recipe
tortillas or "wraps"  I like the whole wheat kind but whatever you got is fine, burrito size works best
1 medium zuchinni, julienne
1 Red Bell pepper, julienne
about 1 breast of cooked, shredded chicken*


*I roasted a chicken earlier in the week and its great for using for several meals I usually can get 3 meals out of 1 chicken.

1. ) Heat tortilla/wrap on the stove until its warm to allow for easier folding so it won't break.
2.) spread about 2 tbsp hummus on the wrap
3.) put a handful of pepper, a handfull of zuchinni, and a small amount of chicken on the tortilla.
4.) Roll and fold burrito style, cut on the diagonal and serve.

Makes 4 Wraps (serves 1 dad, 1 mom, and 1 toddler) If you made a side dish it would be enough for 4 adults.

Products I Love for my Kids. Part 1.

1). Infant-to-Toddler Rocker by Fisher Price



This chair is perfect if you have a baby and a toddler.  If you do, you know that your toddler will want to play with all the toys and equipment that is meant for your new baby.  My 2 year old is over 30 lbs and I could just see the destruction she would cause on another chair or bouncer.  This chair holds up to 40 lbs.  It can be used as a rocker which sits your baby at a good reclining angle or it has a kickstand that lays the chair further back at a great angle for sleeping (at least for the first few months when your baby will sleep in any room anytime.)  The vibrating switch allows me to put my baby in there and he stays happy for a few minutes while I take care of my toddler or get dressed.  If you don't have a lot of space and can't have 5 different pieces of play equipment this chair is nice because it is versatile and will last into toddler-hood

2.) A Backpack instead of a diaper bag.

I know there are certain people who long for those $200 designer bags.  I am not one of them.  I need function and practicality.  With my first baby I had a black messanger bag.  It was adequate but I was frustrated that it would slip off my shoulder while I was lugging my heavy baby around.  When I got pregnant with the second one I knew I wanted a backpack.  I was lucky enough to get one for christmas while I was still pregnant and that helped a ton because my belly was already in the way and a diaper bag would only take up more needed space around me.  I suggest one with two large zipper sections.  You can separate things by child or by purpose.  I use one side for feeding (nursing cover, burp cloth, snacks/food for my toddler etc) and the other side for diapering (changing pad, diapers, change of clothes for each child, etc).  This is also an excellent option if you babywear which will bring me to my next topic.


3.) Baby carriers

If you haven't gotten on this train yet, I highly recommend it.  With my first baby I didn't have a carrier.  My biceps did all the work as my 8 lb 13 oz newborn turned into a 15 lb 2 month old and a 20 lb 5 month old.  I was seriously buff after that first year lugging her around.  She was also a needy, gassy baby and was held and carried most of the day.  That was hard and I wish I would have had known then what I know now.

I have 2 carriers that are the most useful to me at this point. One is a Ring Sling by Sleeping Baby Productions.  Again I did not go for anything fancy just neutral utilitarian and inexpensive though she makes some beautiful slings.  This sling is great for carrying in church and around the house, or anywhere that I won't need to be too active for too long.  It holds my toddler too, though we've done this more for fun than out of need.

My other go-to carrier is the ERGObaby carrier.  I got mine when babysteals.com had them for about 50% off retail.  Woo Hoo!  I use this at least 4 out of 7 days of the week, much more than my double stroller so far.  My baby sleeps in it when we are at the park, library, grocery store etc.  Without it I would be stuck at home or would be forced to leave him in his infant seat which weighs almost 10 lbs on its own so carrying him in it is no small feat.  If I could afford it I would buy one of these for anyone having a baby.  I already want another on in their Sport or Performance version for the warm weather.  If you are considering a carrier PLEASE ignore the Bjorn and the Snugli (which hold the baby in a crotch dangling position that can harm their hips and spine) and check out the ERGO.

 
4) Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Now this is not technically a baby product but is a must have with babies.  We purchased this just before my first was born.  I was adamant that our other camera was inadequate and we would NEED a new one.  This one is not compact but not huge.  I keep it in my backpack/diaper bag usually.  It runs on AA batteries (which is a bummer but if you get one I would suggest to buy rechargeable batteries).  It takes pictures in almost any light very quickly (great for catching those cute faces and action shots.) It also has a high quality video recorder so I can switch quickly between photos and videos if my kids do something brilliant that needs to be filmed.  There are probably newer versions and I would love an even better camera with the same features but one thing I try to tell my friends having kids it to get a camera that takes pictures quickly and takes them indoors well.  If you aren't worried about a little bulk for better pictures get a camera like this. :o)


I will add more products I have found useful as time allows so stay tuned. :o)

New Dress for spinning

I used this pattern for the dress and some fabric I had not used that my grandma gave me.  I found a basic blue cotton to coordinate with the floral and it took a total of 4 days to finish.  If I didn't have a toddler and wasn't 7 months pregnant I could have done it easily in a weekend.  This is the second dress I've made with this pattern and both were made about a year apart.  I'm hoping to make at least one more.

Excuse the wrinkles, she won't take the dress off and has been playing in it on and off over the course of two days.  At least she likes it. :o)

This is the other dress I made for her last year.  She wasn't a walker yet so getting upright pictures of her was not easy.

Current Projects

Crayon pouch with small note pad.  

You can find a tutorial in a ton of places online.  For this one, I used a fabric place mat I found at Walmart and a small notepad I found in a 3 pack at the store for about $2.  The crayon slots are about an inch wide each and with the notepad, I fit all but the black and white crayons from a 16 count box.  I thought about cutting off the top extra fabric but I used it as a flap to ensure the crayons don't fall out and the paper stays clean for the next use.  I figure if I run out of paper I can always use index cards, or computer paper cut smaller in a pinch.

 

Bear Ears Hooded Towel

I used the tutorial from Make it and Love it.  The tricky part is that the towel is thick and gets thicker with each fold.  It also lints and can snag if you aren't careful.  Some parts I had to reinforce by hand because the thickness would not fit in my machine (I'm not an expert and there may be some other foot or modification I could make to my machine but I didn't take the time to figure it out.)

My daughter was not cooperative as a model.

Bandana Dress

I have yet to try this on my daughter because she is not being helpful in that regard especially when she is wearing one of her favorite dresses already.  This was SUPER easy and really fast.  I want to try it on her and maybe modify it a little for more shape but as it is the whole thing took 15-20 minutes (with a toddler distracting/helping) and would probably take 10 minutes had I done it during her nap. I used grosgrain ribbon because I had it on hand.

I was not on a weird red streak, I just was trying to get all the red stuff done before I switched thread because switching to a new bobbin and thread and dusting out the other color is not as fun as just sewing.