Babies & Kids Blog » Kids' Gear

Alarm clocks are great gifts for children who are learning to tell time or just need help waking up for school or daycare. If your child is getting up way too early, an alarm clock can help them tell when it’s okay to finally get out of bed. However, you don’t want something that is too loud or will startle them.

Talking Animal Alarm Clocks $16.95

These alarm clocks really speak to kids. Literally. Alarm goes off and you hear animal sounds.

• Green Frog says “Ribbit-ribbit-ribbit”
• Blue Dog says “Ruff-ruff, ruff-ruff”
• Orange Cat says “Meow, meow”
• On/off alarm switch
• 3 AA Batteries included

Soccer Squishy Alarm Clock $24.95

This is awesome! Kids can beat it up and it won’t get hurt!

Here is your chance to get back at your alarm clock. When the alarm sounds, you can toss or bounce your clock to turn it off. Have a ball with your new sports clock! The Squishy Alarm Clock is an innovative technology that allows you to turn off the alarm by throwing it against the wall. You can squish it, squeeze it and toss it to relieve stress of just have a ball! When the alarm sounds, throw it and the alarm turns off.

Shop for more kids’ alarm clocks at Smarter.com.

BMX bikes come in three main styles - racing, freestyle and dirt jumping. However, the differences between the bikes needed for each discipline are actually very slim. If your child has been asking for a BMX bike, chances are they’re going to ride it and practice tricks at the skate park instead of riding around town.

Here are three for the beginner BMX kid!

Mongoose BMX bikes are very popular and have great reviews across the board.

20″ Boys’ Mongoose “Outer Limit” BMX Racing Bike $97.00 $87.00 On Sale!

• Brakes: Alloy rear linear and front caliper hand brakes
• Tires: Alloy two-tone, 36-spoke wheels with radial spoked front
• Mongoose BMX pierced top tube racing frame design
• Oversized unicrown fork
• Alloy bolt stem and kneesaver handlebars
• Alloy rims
• Alloy platform pedals
• Alloy seat clamp
• Best for ages 8 and up!

20″ Boys’ Wipe Out BMX Bike $69.76 $59.78 On Sale!

• Brakes: Front caliper hand brake and coaster foot brake
• Tires: 20″ Black
• Adjustable, quick-release seat post
• Spoke alloy rims
• Handlebar pads included
• Oversized 36-pound tubular frame
• Approved by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• For ages 6 and up

Kawasaki® KX20 20″ BMX $145.99

• Custom Kawasaki® Bicycles BMX frame
• Aluminum wheels
• Kawasaki® graphics pack
• Alloy linear pull rear brake / Alloy caliper front
• Peg set
• Kickstand included
• Ages 8 and up!

You may have noticed that I didn’t choose any BMX bikes being specifically marketed to girls. All of the girls bikes that I found said things like “She will show off her girly style on this purple bike!” and I thought that was so wrong, I didn’t choose any of them! Buy your girl a red bike and watch her compete with the boys! Not every girl wants to be “girly!”

Yesterday we talked about how to buy a bike for a school aged child. Here are three that would please any kid!

Schwinn 24 Inch Girl’s  Bike: $140.00

Schwinn’s 24” Girl’s GS-25 Bike comes in a delicate cobalt finish that’s pretty and feminine enough for your daughter to ride in style. Yet it also comes with the rugged durability of all Schwinn mountain bikes so she can tackle any terrain with confidence!

Features:

-Rustproof 36 hole Alloy Rims with Stainless Steel Spokes
-Schwinn 30mm rise Handlebar w/ Schwinn Stem
-Schwinn Hand built Trail-Tuned Aluminum Dual Suspension Frame
-Shimano 21-Speed Drive train with SRAM Grip Shift Promax Alloy Linear Pull Brakes
-Shimano 21-Speed Drive train with SRAM Grip Shift Shifters
-SR Suntour M2000N Suspension Fork
-Suntour Alloy 22/34/44t Crank

18″ Boy’s NEXT Surge Bike: $59.00

The Next Surge is the ideal bike for your growing boy. It features front caliper (hand) brakes, plus the rear coaster (foot) brake that he’s comfortable with. Chances are, this will be the first bike he rides without training wheels.

Features:

-Age Range: 5 to 8 years
-Wheel Size: 18 inches Key Features:
-Front and rear caliper brakes, plus rear coaster brake
-Handlebar and stem pads
-Quick-release seat post
-Training wheels included Specs:
-Frame: Steel BMX-style frame
-Fork: BMX-style fork with 1.25-inch-thick steel tube
-Handlebar/Stem: Steel BMX-style with crossbar
-Brakes: Rear coaster, plus front and rear caliper
-Levers: Resin levers
-Crank: 1-piece, 5.5-inch steel crank
-Rims: Painted steel rims
-Hubs: Steel
-Tires: 18″ x 1.95″ black BMX tires
-Seat: Black, printed seat

Huffy Pro Thunder 20″ Boys’ BMX Bicycle: $79.99

The Huffy Pro Thunder 20″ boys’ bicycle is a perfect first bike. It features a steel frame that’s both easy to control and forgiving, and a coaster brake provides simple braking. Knobby tires give excellent traction on and off-road, and the jet-black paint scheme appeals to all comers.

Features:

-Specifically designed for young children who are new to riding.
-A strong and durable material that will last.
-Increases the feel and response of the bike.
-Low profile BMX bars that offer you stability and great maneuverability.
-Allows you to pedal backwards without the brakes engaging.
-Provides you with a soft seat that will allow you to enjoy longer rides in comfort.
-Very strong material which makes the wheels extremely durable.
-Feature small raised knobs that help the tires grip better in dirt and in mud.
-This covers the chain so that you do not get your shoe laces stuck in the chain ring.
Simple bike pedals that anyone can ride.

Shop for more kids’ bikes at Smarter.com.

I’m helping my sister find a bike for her 8-year-old daughter. She wants a mountain bike. Unbeknownst to me, there’s a lot more to buying a bike than the price and the color. My advice to my sister so far has been “oooh! get a pretty one!” Not really helpful, huh? But luckily the internet has come through for me once again..

Big Kids Bikes:

Kids grow so if they are in a child seat or trailer it won’t be long until they outgrow it. At 2-4 years they can move on to their own appropriately sized tricycle. On a bicycle, kids can experience/learn the laws of inertia, pedaling, steering, braking and sitting on a saddle. Trikes don’t do much to develop a sense of balance and they can be tippy (excluding low-lying “big wheels”).

Most kids try a two-wheeler with training wheels around age 3 years.

Between the ages of 4 and 8 years most kids have developed sufficient physical coordination and agility, good balance and master starting and stopping on a tricycle or training wheels so that they are ready to learn to ride a bicycle. (Note: Kids generally lack the coordination and strength for hand brakes until at least 5.) But, along with physical skills it also takes mental readiness (self-confidence) and motivation to learn to bicycle. Some kids don’t develop this until they are 10 or more years old. It sometimes takes a lot of patience on the part of parents. Interest and readiness to learn to ride a bike can manifests itself as questions about bicycles, a desire to ride with friends, talk about tricycles and training wheels as things for “babies,” etc. (read more)

Shop for kids’ bikes at Smarter.com.

Monday, I showed you how to shop for a tricycle. Today I am sharing my top 3 tricycles for all price ranges.

Barbie Princess Tough Trike $25.00

Don’t let Barbie fool you, she’s a tough chick and she’s got the trike to prove it! At $25 bucks you just can’t beat this one.

Styled for a princess, yet tough enough for years of fun and adventure! Girls can hop to troll around their entire kingdom. Trike features a pretend key that turns and clicks, and there’s a secret storage compartment under the comfort-ride seat for trinkets and treasures. Durable tires and rugged treads pair up for “off-road” fun. Trike has all the essentials that parents look for, too, like a wide, stable wheel base, easy-grip handlebars and big no-slip foot pedals. For outdoor use only. Holds up to 55 lbs.

Radio Flyer 53 Steer & Stroll Deluxe Trike $65.14

Innovative internal geared steering feature, freewheeling pedals, oversized steel tubular frame, durable molded wheels with grip tread, ringing bell, covered storage, adjustable seat.

This is one sturdy trike. The push handle is a bonus and it has a bell too! That could be awesome….or obnoxious. You decide!

Pilot Series Double Orange Tricycle $264.99

If you have twins, or run a daycare this may be the trike for you!

Italtrike’s Pilot Series Double Orange Tricycle is perfect for preschool and daycare students ages two to four years old – right at the age where kids need the freedom to move around and explore on their own. Up to two children sit comfortably on the ergonomic seats with backrests. The special steering design eliminates pinch points to prevent playground injuries, and the wide wheel base prevents tipping. Pilot Series trikes feature sturdy steel frames, rust-resistant finishes and spokeless wheels with solid rubber tires, so they’re safe and durable.

Shop for discount tricycles at Smarter.com.

Looking into buying a tricycle for your child? Here is what you need to consider:

• How old is your child? Most trikes fit and are enjoyed by kids 2-4 years old.

• Do you want a plastic or metal tricycle? Plastic is usually less expensive but isn’t as durable as metal.

• Notice the size of the tricycle. Metal tricycles come with 10- or 12-inch wheels. Plastic tricycles come either very low to the ground or at a height in between a ground hugger and a classic trike.

• Is your child pushing the peddles on their own yet? If not, consider a tricycle with a parent handle that you can push.

• Look for a tricycle that your child can get on and off of easily. At the same time, try to get one that won’t be too small next year. If the child can get on a larger-size tricycle, it’s usually wiser to buy it rather than a smaller one that will be quickly outgrown.

• How much you want to spend? Tricycles range from around $25 to $130 for a model with all the bells and whistles, such as under seat storage.

This is the tricycle my daughter is getting for her birthday this week from grandpa and grandma! Shh, don’t tell her! It’s got rave reviews so we are very excited!

Schwinn 12″ Roadster tricycle

“Your child will enjoy a classy ride with the red Roadster, Schwinn’s retro-modern take on the classic tricycle. It features a full-steel, heavy-duty frame, scalloped chrome fenders for flare, and a real wood back deck for an added passenger. It has wide design for an extra-low center gravity, helping to prevent tip overs. The sculpted seat is adjustable for growing riders. The cool “moustache-style” chrom handlebar features padded grips, long tassels, and a bell. The front wheel measures 12 inches in diameter and the back wheels measure 8 inches in diameter.”

Shop through a variety of affordable tricycles at Smarter.com.

Playhouses can bring years of fun to the lives of your children. They can help foster your kids social development and imaginations all from the safety of your backyard. Use these helpful tips when choosing a playhouse for your family:

• Where will you put the playhouse? If you decide to have an outdoor playhouse it must be durable enough to withstand the elements. It should be easily accessible and located in a place where you feel completely comfortable letting your children play. Consider the amount of sunlight and shade the playhouse will receive during different seasons and how you want the structure to blend in with the landscape.

• Select a playhouse size that is appropriate for its use. The playhouse should be big enough to accommodate the number of children who’ll be using it, but not so large that it overwhelming. Carefully measure the dimensions of the playhouse against the space where you intend to put it.

• Check the durability and safety of the playhouse’s construction. Safe playhouses lack sharp corners, have Plexiglas windows and do not use pressure-treated wood.

• Check out the interior of the playhouse. Many include shelves, special furniture, hooks, seating and counters to help encourage your children’s imagination and make them feel comfortable with their new space.

• What would your kids like? Ask them directly for their feedback once you’ve narrowed down your selection.

Here are my favorites!

Little Tikes Endless Adventures Tikes Town Playhouse $349.99

2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner The perfect playhouse for imaginative and social play! With an “around the town” theme, this playhouse offers endless interactive role-play activities. Four different themed walls inspire creative and imaginative play.

KidKraft Outdoor Cottage Playhouse $299.95

Kids discover a brand new world where everything is sized perfectly just for them. With its detailed structure and high-quality construction, this fun hangout would be a great gift for any of the young explorers in your life. Product Features: Made of weather-resistant wood. Door opens and closes, wide windows open and close inside of house and includes a sink and convenient storage space–even a mailbox with a flag!

Shop for affordable playhouses at Smarter.com.

First, side note…

This morning I was reading a review of the VTech V. Smile Motion Active Learning system over at celebrity-babies:

“For kids ages 4-7, the games are lessons in disguise: while my daughter was spending time happily bouncing the joystick from frame to frame, she was counting to 20, working through the alphabet and matching animal babies with the sounds they make. I read up on the different lessons, feeling happy that she was learning something and playing at the same time. She’s also really into the Disney Little Einsteins ($24.99) cartridge because it has all of the music and dancing that she enjoys in the show. We’re finding that the lessons are fun, integral parts of the games.”

The system is available on the VTech website for $60, but look! You can get it for $40! What a deal!

In other news, Céline Dion is expecting her second child. A rep for the 41-year-old singer confirmed the news to various outlets saying, “Céline and René are very happy,” and “They are crazy in love over the news … they are overjoyed.” Céline is reportedly due in May. Céline and her husband already have an 8 year old son, René-Charles. When I saw a picture of their son (who is really cute!) I was surprised to see his extremely long hair. What do you think, Moms? Would you let your son grow his hair that long?

Image: mamamia

School is upon us, and with the start of a new year comes new schedules and responsibilities for students. Help your kid be punctual with a watch. Not only are they cool for accessorizing, they are also useful for middle school aged children who follow class scheduling, and for the younger kids they are great for learning to tell time. If nothing else, your son or daughter will enjoy being able to watch the minutes tick down until school is out for the day! Here are some cool watches for your cool kids:

Activa Kids’ Rubber Strap Watch $45.00 $14.99

“Your child won’t have trouble keeping track of this playful, bright yellow elastic strap watch by Activa Kids. Comfortable, durable, and easy to read, this is a perfect first watch for intermediate time-tellers and slips easily on and off the wrist. Constructed with a comfortable, 20-millimeter fabric band, a 29-millimeter stainless steel case, and matching stainless steel bezel, this well-designed watch will still be working when your child outgrows it. The sunny dial is protected by a durable mineral window, and features large, squiggly black Arabic numerals, and slim hour, minutes, and seconds hands for timekeeping precision. Powered by analog-quartz movement, this watch is water resistant to 99 feet–which means even bath time is good for this playful timepiece.”

Disney Kids’ The Princess and The Frog Time Teacher Expansion Strap Watch $29.99 $22.50

“With a firefly as your guide, this timepiece shines a light on timekeeping for beginning timekeepers! Clearly labeled “HOUR” and “MINUTE” hands, as well as a sweeping second hand, make the Disney Kids’ The Princess and The Frog Time Teacher Expansion Strap Watch the perfect watch for young Disney fans. Featuring Ray, the lovesick Cajun firefly from The Princess and The Frog, the round blue dial has pink-and-white hands and a lavender outer dial with minute markers. Constructed with a durable metal case and a bezel with hour markers, and an elegant expansion bracelet, this timepiece has a magic touch that kids won’t soon outgrow. Featuring quartz movement, this Disney watch is water resistant up to 99 feet (30 M).”

Timex Kids’ Fast Wrap Watch $24.95 19.96

“Nicely sporty and stylish to boot, the Timex T78351 Tween quartz analog watch is a great match for your constantly on-the-go youngster. It features a wide, oval-shaped resin watch case in silver and gray that frames a classic white dial background with full Arabic numeral display, black hands (with seconds hand), and small minute indexes. It also offers water resistance to 30 meters (99 feet), date display at 3 o’clock, and a durable nylon Fast Wrap strap (with Velcro fastener) in orange, gray, and silver. The Indiglo night-light uniformly lights the surface of the watch dial using patented blue electroluminescent lighting technology. It uses less battery power than most other watch illumination systems, enabling your watch battery to last longer.”

Shop for more kids’ watches at Smarter.com.

Recently I needed to buy a gift for a tween girl. I didn’t have a lot of money to spend and I didn’t want to hand over a gift card to some store at the mall. So I started asking my mom friends “What are young girls into these days?” The response was overwhelming. The Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, and iCarly are the current object of obsession for tween girls everywhere. If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation and need an inexpensive gift, here are some great choices.

Pictured above with Zac Efron. Too cool, right? Loved by girls and equally hated by boys, The Jonas Brothers are the NKOTB for this generation of screaming teens. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children’s television network. From Wyckoff, New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas. In the summer of 2008, they starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock. The band has released four albums: It’s About Time, Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer, and Lines, Vines and Trying Times. In 2008, the group was nominated for the Best New Artist award at the 51st Grammy Awards and won the award for Breakthrough Artist at the American Music Awards. To date, they have sold over eight million albums worldwide.

Jonas Brothers Black and Silver Tote Bag $22.95

Perfect for back to school!

Aqua Blue Jonas Brothers Group Crest Shirt $18.95

Every girl should have a tee shirt from her favorite band!

Miley Cyrus plays Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real identity from the public, other than her close friends and family.

Hannah Montana Short Sleeve T-Shirt $12.99

Brightly colored, any girl would love this!

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds $21.41

Bring the concert home!

A lot of parents really like iCarly because the main character, Carly, is smart and funny. Compared to most other shows, iCarly is very wholesome. The series focuses on a girl named Carly who creates her own web show called iCarly with her best friends Sam and Freddie.

Nickelodeon iCarly.com Hot Pink Messenger Bag $29.95

This would be a perfect school bag!

iCarly Nightgown for Girls $14.99

Every girl loves new jammies!

Images: disney.com