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My biggest gripe with sippy cups is the stuff that gets stuck in the spout – which comes only second to the fact that not all spouts act alike, so the baby is really only learning to drink from one type of cup.

The EIO Kids Cup solves that problem with a rather simple solution: ditch the spout.

By taking a basic glass canning jar and designing a BPA-free, twist-on, spill-resistant cap, those learning to drink will master the art of sipping, rather than continuing to suck as they do with a bottle; a big bonus for proper oral development. In addition, Read more…

With a busy house that includes a crawling baby, two dogs, and a frisky cat, there’s all sorts ways that a lamp can get pulled off a desk. And though I do my best to keep cords out of the reach of hands and paws, I’m not always totally on top of it.

The Roly-Poly lamp was designed to Read more…

My first thought when I saw this set was, “aw, that’s cute.”

But then I actually found myself trying to decipher the pictures to figure out which letter they each represent. The letter Q is represented by a little Quaker guy. W is a walrus, E is an elf – you get the idea.

Meaning, this is more of an item for mom and less so for the kids. And because Read more…

In the never-ending quest for the newest and best baby products out there, Designer Disposable Diapers have hit the market; that’s right, for $1.50 each, you can have diapers that say “Change Me” on the bottom.

Now, as a mom who goes through about 8-10 diaper changes a day, I’m looking at that potential weekly total and thinking, “boy, I’m glad I use cloth.”  You could be talking about Read more…

From our friends in Canada comes EcoJot: 100% post-consumer recycled paper products with a sassy sense of style that doesn’t harm the environment.

I’ve got to be honest – I’m smitten.

I’m a sucker for notebooks anyway and I’m also a Read more…

Most everyone these days has an iSomething-or-Another. And if you do, you can take advantage of the unique book app called “Sleeping with the Laundry.”

Syndicated columnist Margee Moore has a witty voice and a humorous take on parenting, work, life and the elusive balance; this app is a collection of essays that sum up her thoughts and observations.

While it is considered a “book app,” you can read Read more…

As a mom of two, deals are essential to my budget, especially given the fact that we have both a baby and a tween who is involved in competitive sports.

DealTaker.com is a site designed to help you get the very best deal possible as quickly as possible.  A major “deal hub” if you will, they have Read more…

For any parent who has a child struggling to sleep through the night or who suffers from any sort of separation anxiety, you know that it can be exhausting and emotionally taxing for both you and your little one.

The makers of “My Little Beating Heart” appreciate that and set out to help parents and children everywhere with their newest addition – a child-sized version of their classic “My Beating Heart.” The purpose of this “beating” heart is to Read more…

As a kid, being different stinks. And no matter how many times we – as moms and dads – tell our kiddos that being unique is a-okay, they never believe us.

Ze Super Zeros aims to change all that. Each character in their plush line-up has not only a special power, but an associated “challenge” that makes it difficult for them to use their special power. For example, Zonk the Monkey is a super climber, but he’s also Read more…

Quemeez moccasins had their start like many of the handmade baby shoes do – a mother looking for a product to meet the needs of her child. In this case, Sunshine Tenasco put her sewing skills to work for her and created a beautiful pair of beaded leather moccasins for her baby girl.

After a few shoes went missing and a few more were made, Sunshine decided to perfect her model so they wouldn’t slip off feet. It also didn’t hurt that people were beginning to notice her beautiful beading work.

Personally, I find these moccasins to be beautiful and intricately detailed; however, Read more…

Being from Southern Maine (or Northern Boston as my dad likes to say), I can tell you a few things about New England folks: we’re incredibly friendly, got a sassy sense of humor and we’re “wicked cheap.”

That’s right. We like to save a buck wherever we can.

But that doesn’t mean we’re schlepping around in holey jeans and old flannels either; I’ve got lots of friends with closets full of designer duds – they just didn’t pay full price for them.

Looking for a way to get your inner Boston-babe on and be thrifty while still looking good and maintaining a happy, healthy, and adorable household? Check out Shoestring Magazine. This online publication oozes with the perfect blend of wittiness and thriftiness – so much so that even the most frivolous of spenders will be smitten.

Covering everything from wallet-friendly wines and 365 outfits for $365 (total) to making your own pet food to reduce your vet bills and Mad Men inspired DIY decorating projects, this is a one-stop wonder that will please anyone’s taste buds.

Want to make recession-friendly homemade ice cream? Check.

Dump your gym membership and find a “freegan fitness routine”? Check.

How about finding a list of free money management tools? Check.

This magazine covers it all and does it with a sense of humor.

Well worth logging on everyday, just to see what’s new. Better yet, subscribe to their weekly Gumshoe newsletter and get it all delivered right to your inbox.

Photo Courtesy of Shoestring Magazine

Discipline is always a struggle – especially time-outs.

First making sure your child stays put, then making sure you remember to get them out of time-out at the right time is not easy.

Because time-outs are supposed to be one minute for every year of age, right? Not to mention, how does he know when time-out is over?

Instead of setting the egg timer, consider the Time Out Pad.

Easy to use, you just set the built-in timer and set your child on the pressure-sensitive pad; if your child gets up before the end of the time-out, a little alarm will go off, letting you know. The timer pauses and then restarts once your child sits back down.

If your child sits through the entire time-out, a little tune will play, letting both you and your child know that his time has been served. And because kids are so visual, it even has a little traffic light system so your child can see where they are in the process of their time-out.

This system works on any flat surface and runs off of AA batteries, which are included.

While I think this is a novel idea, I’m not sure that it will be a great fit for all parents; some might find it to be a bit too “Big Brother.” In addition, while a time-out is a form of discipline that seems to work quite well, having an alarm go off if you have an escape artist on your hands might seem overly punitive.

Have you tried the Time Out Pad? What are your thoughts on the system?

Photo Courtesy of the gro company

Handmade from birch plywood, this retro-inspired child table set will be the perfect addition to any playroom. Finished off with rounded corners, your little one won’t have sharp edges to bump up against.

Because it’s handmade, you’ll get to choose the shape and paint color. The paint is done in a manner so that the beautiful grain of the wood shows through and then finished with a clear, water-based acrylic topcoat. And no two are alike, which means it’s an original, just like your child.

The table shown above is finished with a chalkboard paint, which means coloring on the table top is no big deal.

Available from Etsy seller Jessica Johnson, she has a 100% feedback rating and a shop full of beautiful furniture and unique light fixtures. A busy mom of two, she has an engineering background and a calling to create original, artistic pieces.

Photo Courtesy of jessedirk/etsy

I’m just going to say it: if your kid is rocking this bike through the neighborhood, you are officially the coolest parent. Ever.

Coined the “ultimate pre-bike”, the Wishbone limited edition Endangered Snail Bike has original art by Neal Whittington and was inspired by the endangered giant kauri snail of New Zealand. With gorgeous green and red hues set against a snowy-white background, Neal has taken an amazing balance bike and made it even more fabulous. If you prefer earthier tones, Wishbone is also featuring the limited edition Koru bike, celebrating new life, relationships and diversity:

Now, if you’re not familiar with Wishbone bikes, it’s important to understand what’s so great about these wheels designed specifically for kids. Little ones can start as early as one with a 3-wheeled version of the Snail (or any other design) bike; lightweight and super stable, it’s easy for newbies to maneuver.

As your child grows and becomes more comfortable with his transportation, Wishbone bikes convert to a 2-wheeled balance bike; by ages 4 or 5, you can actually “flip” the frame and convert the balance bike into a larger model. Essentially, the same bicycle can take your child from his first ride right through his hundredth.

Because these bikes come without pedals, children get to focus on balance and steering without the frustration that often comes with trying to balance, steer, pedal and brake all at the same time!

With 12-inch pumped-up tires, this eco- and kid-friendly set of wheels is made from kiln-dried, preservative-free plantation birch/ash and weighs just over 8 pounds.  And, with its easy transformation, there’s less material consumption and less overall waste, meaning these bikes are better for the planet.

So give your kids the simplicity of childhood on two – or three! – wheels. The Wishbone Snail bike is an investment well worth making. You’ll be doing something great for your kids and the planet.

Photo Courtesy of Wishbone

Every momma out there loves to track their child’s growth. From pencil marks on a door frame to elaborate growth charts that hang on the wall of their bedrooms, there are many ways to measure your little ones.

And Miss Natalie’s Growth Chart is a divine way for simplistic moms everywhere to record those milestones.

Packaged in an heirloom wooden box, the growth chart is made of one four-foot long burlap ribbon mounted across two wooden dowels. Just one nail and you’re ready to get started.

Rather than the traditional growth chart with numbered markers, this unique set uses a tag and pin method to record measurements. There are twenty tags included in the set (ten red and ten manilla) and each has a space to record your child’s name, age and the date.

Measure up your babe, fill out the critical info and then place just a bit of glue on the pin head. Secure the tag in place and viola! The measurement is forever recorded.

With such a visual presence, this set focuses more on seeing the differences between each marked space. If you think that your children will want to look back and know that they measured 5’4″ tall on Christmas Eve the year they turned 11, you’ll have to mark the measurement on the tag before you pin it up.

This growth chart would look great in any room, but it is particularly fitting for those with a more basic, handmade, simple decor. At just $56, this would make a great gift for any family and will certainly become a keepsake item.

Photo Courtesy of Natalie Davis

I have two children that love the water; one is a competitive swimmer and one is just an infant. And since the oldest doesn’t need a Sea Squirts Swim Assist Vest, the younger one is going to have to grin and bear it.

And how could she not? While she likely won’t appreciate the design right now, give her just a few more years and by toddler-hood, I’m betting she’ll be thrilled that she can sport a Clownfish or Dolphin fin in the neighborhood pool.

But not just another pretty face, the Swim Assist Vests are a wonderful tool to help your little ones learn to swim. And since they’re neoprene inside and out, they’re durable and add an extra layer of warmth for when the waters are just a bit chilly.

Three removable flotation panels adjust to meet the needs of your pre-swimmer. If they still need a lot of buoyancy, leave in all three; if they’re nearly swimming all on their own, remove two. And once they’ve mastered the waves, you can take out all three panels and the vest can still be worn as a toy at the beach, pool or even the bathtub (let’s face it, what kid doesn’t love to play Jaws once in a while?)

Designed for ages 2-7, the small sized vests start as little as 19-20″ across the chest and larges go up to 22″ with all floatation pads installed. Available in Killa Whale, Blue Dolphin, Grrrrreat White Shark, Clownfish, Pink Dolphin and Angelfish, there’s a Swim Assist vest for every swimmer in the house.

Available online for $45.95, your child won’t even realize he’s working to learn a new skill; with that flexible fin on his back, he’ll be focused on the play!

Photo Courtesy of Opa Cove