Babies & Kids Blog » 2008 » February

BabyGadget.net featured adorable clothing from Maki Kojo’s Esty shop, Usagi.  I love the black dress pictured.  It looks super comfy & stylish.

GoodyBlog is giving away a Nintendo DS with a new game!  Today is the last day to enter to win so you better hurry!

Mom’s Buzz gives some great websites that help explain the environmental phenomena our children need to be aware of & understand:  Greenhouse Effect & Global Warming for Kids

    This week on the Smarter Babies & Kids Blog we covered:

Angelina Jolie is official pregers.

More measures are being taken to stop Smoking Around Children.

Check out NBC’s 8 “Must Have Gadgets” for Parents.

We found some great prices on baby shopping cart covers.

Only ONE product recall this week:  Munire Furniture Clibs

ABC News discusses the need for more frequent flu shots for kids.

Have a great weekend!

I read an ABC News article today that said the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices says that babies 6 months old up to 18 year olds need flu vaccination shots annually. That’s a lot of confrontations with needles. Not sure how many kids would like hearing this.

“Kids ages 5 to 18 get flu at higher rates than other age groups, but they don’t tend to get as sick from it…But kids who stay home sick from school cause parents to stay home, so reducing the illness in this group should cut down days of lost work in their parents and adult contacts, some experts said.”

Click here to read the full article. Looks like they won’t be enforcing this until 2009.

Munire Furniture recalls cribs due to “fall hazard.”
                           
                

Stop using the recalled cribs & contact Munire Furniture to receive replacement spring brackets.

Five crib models have been recalled.  Click here for the full press release & more pictures.

Back in the day there were no baby shopping cart covers, but I suppose it is typical for the lucky spoiled children of today to have them. :)  Really though, they are pretty nifty.  They help protect from germs.  Your child will be comfy & entertained while you shop around and worry, “What should I cook for dinner” vs. “Is little Johnny going to scream his head off?”

Here are some great shopping cart covers for your baby & toddler on sale:

Clean Shopper by Babe Ease: $29.95 Now: $23.95.  Comes in 6 different patterns.

Prop ‘R Shopper by Leachco: $34.95 Now: $31.46.  Comes in 2 different patterns.

Shopping Cart & High Chair Cover by Cuter Than a Ducks Butt: $65.00 Now: $52.00.  Comes in 2 different patterns. 

Shopping Cart Cover by Infantino: $34.95 Now: $31.46.  Comes in 2 different patterns.

For more baby shopping cart covers click here.

What would you say?  Post your caption in our comments section. 

On the Today Show on NBC this morning they featured 8 gadgets as necessities for busy parents by mother Cat Schwartz.  Here are some of the exact gadgets or similar products found on Smarter.com:

                                                           Voice Activated Crib Light: $10.00

This crib light will give your comfort with it’s warm colored lights & pleasant heart beat sound.  It will give you a rest from having to tend to them until they fall asleep because the moment they make a noise they crib light activates.

                                                              Hands-Free Diaper Pail: $34.99

This diaper pail activates with a sensor.  Just like newer public restroom that have hands free flushers & sinks.  No germs please.

                             Super-Efficient Changing Table - UBI Deluxe Changing Table: $129.99

This changing table has a built in diaper dispenser for quick & easy diaper changes.  Not to mention LESS FUSS!

                                                                    Tuba Light: $196.00

Babies love lighting.   These Tuba Lights are for comfort, soothing & even play time!

                                    Glowing Pillow - Bela Baby Nurse N Glow Pillow: $35.95

This pillow allows mothers to see if they baby is “okay” while they are nursing.  Also promotes proper spinal alignment while nursing in bed.

                                  The Best High Chair - Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair: $229.99

This high chair looks a bit odd, but it’s supposed to be the best!  You can put your child right up to the dinner table with the rest of the family, very easy to clean & can be turned into a toddler chair.

                                  High-Tech Stroller - Orbit Baby Infant Stroller System: $899.99

This stroller can be used during the first 3 years as the systems grows with your baby.  It can even be used at restaurants as a high chair!

                                    Handy Blender: Breville Cordless Hand Blender: $99.95

Use this blender for easy recipes for you & your baby!

Click here to read the full article by Cat Schwartz on MSNBC.com.

Not smoking cigarettes around children should be common sense.  Why would you even want to?  I mean, I’m no smoker, but you would think considering you have to sacrifice just about everything for your kids that you would sacrifice such cravings as well.  However, if we have laws against this maybe some people who lack common knowledge will listen up!  In a place where everyone has healthcare they have started to make strict laws against smoking in cars with minors (under 18 yrs.). Wolfville, N.S. is a university town & the first city in Canada to pass such a law.  Many other cities in Canada have started to follow this need for healthy children.  In my opinion, smoking with your children in the car should be considered child abuse.  Especially if you are cruel enough to not crack a window.

Click here to read more about this national movement that is sweeping Canada from TheGlobeandMail.com.

According to an older USA Today article:  In the US, Arkansas and Louisiana already have laws such as this.  While, Texas, Vermont & other states ban only foster parents from smoking around children which is very odd to me.  Why just foster parents?  I hope by the end of the year every state in America makes a law that all guardians cannot smoke around their children.  The only thing is that unfortunately is that this law cannot be fully regulated as authorities will not know what parents are doing in the privacy of their homes. 

This weekend at the “low key” 2008 Film Independent Spirit Awards Angie wore a dress that showed off her baby bump.  Congrats to them!  This will be their fifth child.  Another lucky child. I actually heard that there are rumors going around that they are having twins. We shall see!

Source:  SFGate.com

Thingamababy asks:   Would you, could you, have you ever said, “Don’t touch my baby”?  Babies are adorable & strangers seem to think its cool to touch and grab them, but…ew.  Thingamababy features Wordsies shirts that will have your baby ask the necessary questions or say the words you might not want to. 

Celebrity Baby Blog helps announce the birth of J-Lo & Marc Anthony’s twins - a son & a daughter!

Parent Hacks discusses 10 Ways to Find Time for Your Family - No Matter How Busy You Are: #4 Focus on the Biggest Impact…this is one of my favorites.

 It was a nice  & short work week this week.  This week on Smarter Babies & Kids we covered:

The new Elmo doll is coming out in October 2008 and it looks like its going to be another hit for Fisher-Price & The Most Animated Elmo Doll Ever!

Recalls this week: 

      Cinderella & Spiderman Toys Recalled

      Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled

      Children’s Memory Testing Cards Recalled

      Magntic Dart Boards Recalled

Check out some great children’s furniture on sale:

      Top 5 Children’s Furniture Pieces on Sale

      Affordable Cribs for Your “Expensive” Little Ones

      Discount Children’s Furniture: Table & Chairs

Have a wonderful weekend!

Children’s Metal Jewelry recalled by Pecoware due to “risk of lead exposure.”

Immediately take the recalled necklaces away from children & contact Pecoware for instructions on returning the necklaces for a full refund.

Click here to read the full press release.

Children’s Memory Testing Cards recalled by Riverside Publishing due to “violation of lead paint standard.”

Immediately stop using the recalled memory cards & return them to Riverside Publishing for free replacement cards. The firm is contacting purchasers directly.

Click here to read the full press release.

Family Dollar recalls Magnetic Dart Boards; “Ingested magnets pose aspiration & intestinal hazards.”

Immediately take the recalled toys away from children and return the board and all of the darts to a Family dollar store for a refund.

Click here to read the full press release.