Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews

Yo My Booties: The best stuff that's all fluff!

How can you not be obsessed with a baby bootie that is as soft, fluffy, puffy and luxurious as Yo My Booties? There may be plenty of cute booty stops on the baby booty train, but Yo My Booties are the final destination. The end all, be all of cute baby footwear. Yo My Booties are not for the average baby. They are for the baby that has arrived!

I was interested to see how the booties were made, because I was frankly concerned about whether they would stay on a real baby's feet. I am happy to report that these puffballs have elastic in the cuff so you do have a prayer of not losing them. I'm not too worried about my pair as I am sure I will be obsessively petting my baby's feet, every five moments, while he has them on.

Click continue reading below to read the entire Yo My Booties review and to see what celebs covet this footwear.

Pampers Stages: Mega review!

Pampers' marketing firm approached us to test and review their Pampers Stages line of diapers and wipes.  We recruited CBB staff and readers to test out the various stages and sizes.

To accompany what Pampers identified in 2002 as the four stages of a baby's development, the company designed diapers to offer specific benefits for each stage of that development, from Swaddlers, that provide comfort and protection from the  first days of infancy, to Cruisers for babies on the move, to Easy Ups,for toddlers starting to learn to do things by themselves and  Feel n’ Learn, training pants and bathroom tools created for the potty training stage. Taking these findings one step further, Pampers broadened their STAGES line-up to include a corresponding wipe for every stage of a baby’s development.

Click Continue Reading for very detailed reviews of this line!

After you read, please feel free to post YOUR review of the Pampers Stages line!

10Grain Kids Small Paul by Paul Frank Collection

I've said it before and I will say it again - we're Paul Frank freaks around here. Which is why we were beyond excited about the 10Grain Kids Small Paul by Paul Frank collection that brings our favorite monkey and some fabulous kids furniture together in a perfect mod marriage.

10 Grain Kids is known for their simple, clean lined, practical pieces. The collection is well rounded with chairs, tables, a small desk, ride on scooter, and a step stool. But my two favorite pieces are the Log Rocker ($215) which accommodates one to two children on a trip to the moon or treasure island, and the Julius Pad ($199) which is part nightstand and part action filled dollhouse. All the the pieces in the 10grain collection are carefully crafted, multi-functional and sure to stir the imagination.

We're also super excited about these removable, repositionable Vinyl Wall Spots ($68). They promise to fill any room with plenty of monkey business, and without damaging the surfaces. My son will be getting some of these monkeys jumping on his bed frame, as well as decorating his walls.

Exclusively for Celebrity Baby Blog Readers: Save 10% when you enter the coupon code "cbb10" at 10grain.com

Why I bought my.... Amazing Miracle Blanket

I've mentioned before that I am swaddling-challenged. When my son Ben was an infant two years ago, my husband and I had such a hard time getting the swaddling right (we were following Dr. Harvey Karp's Happiest Baby on the Block's techniques). The blanket would always end up coming untucked and my baby would let me know his displeasure. We ended up sleeping less and less and got crankier and crankier.

My husband's friend had sent us two of the Amazing Miracle Blankets as a new baby gift -- and we quickly fell in love with them. Finally we could get the swaddling done quickly, even in the middle of the night. We quickly bought several more and rotated them so we always had a clean one on hand. He slept better and a was very calm baby. We swaddled Ben until he was about 4 months old (and still wish we could go back to the days that a securely wrapped blanket would help my boy sleep). Pictured up on the top left is a happily swaddled sleeping Ben and his daddy. I love this product so much that I often buy it as a new baby gift.

Enter second child Allegra (who at press time is 3 weeks). While I love the muslin swaddle blankets that I've tested -- at night, every night, she's in the cotton Amazing Miracle Blanket, swaddled happily. I can wrap her up easily in my sleepy exhausted state. The Amazing Miracle Blanket is 100% cotton and has two inside flaps to secure the arms.  There is also a longer flap to cross over both arms and a long flap to wind around the baby to secure them. On their website, miracleblanket.com, you can watch a video to figure out how to use the blanket. I only wish there was a way to keep it closed, you have to tuck it in somewhere and sometimes its hard to find a place. 

Winter special: Shop miracleblanket.com and buy now and get 10% off all blankets. If you have twins or triplets, take 15% off orders of two or more. 

Sok-O toys: Where individuality is cherished

I remember as a child watching with awe the first time I saw my mom turn a sock into a puppet. It became a rainy day ritual for my older sister and I, when we could think of nothing else to do, to present our mom with a sock, some buttons and yarn -- and then sit back to watch her work her magic. Having a toy that was handmade just for me felt like a total luxury, even if it consisted almost entirely of a sock. My own two little boys haven't enjoyed that feeling very much or very often for I'm not nearly as handy with a needle and thread as my own mother was. But thanks to Sok-O I don't need to be! 

Sok-O, a group of three Los Angeles-based designers and one designer located in Taiwan, makes fun and funky dolls that are sure to shake up your child's collection of stuffed animals in a big, bold way.  Each toy is created with a pair of socks or, in some cases, one individual sock; Because they are handmade, no two are identical, and each comes complete with its own birth certificate.

Click continue reading below to read the entire Sok-O review and to see a shot from their participation at the Boom Boom Room Event.

Goosie Cards: Custom flash cards for kids of all ages!

My best friend keeps a bulletin board in her baby's room with pictures to make sure she knows the faces of all her relatives. Almost every day she will point the pictures out to her. The minute I saw Goosie Cards I thought of her and had to check them out!

Goosie cards are the first and only custom flash cards for children. You basically log in, add your pictures and text, check out and you get your Goosie Cards within days. This is a great way to teach your baby or toddler about relatives that aren't living nearby or maybe places they are traveling to. The ideas are endless and it's all about your creativity. As a child, I was a visual learner and Goosie Cards would have been very beneficial for many tests that I may not have done such a great job on, lets leave that, at that! If you're not that creative, Goosie Cards also offers a "Goosie Gallery" with over 150 free full-color photos so you can design your own cards. You can also buy stock sets that come in categories such as ABC's, Animal Kingdom, 123's, Favorite Foods, Head to Toe, What to Wear, Colors and Shapes, Trucks and Tractors and Mix and Match. The photos are beautiful, clear and amazing!

This is going to be my new "staple" baby gift for friends! I think it's a brilliant idea. I already gave my daughter some of the color cards and she is mesmerized but them. Jen also sent me a sample gift certificate which is a tri-fold folder that has an explanation of Goosie Cards, the gift certificate in the center and a sample card. It's so beautifully done. I love beautiful packaging! Recently, Trista Sutter went on to the Goosie Cards site and fell in love with them, I understand. I love, Love, LOVE Goosie Cards!!

Goosie Cards will be offering a special holiday 15% discount to CBB readers now through 2/29/08. To redeem your discount, enter code "celebrity" at check out.

For more of Doryn's reviews and tips, go to www.dorynsdish.com

Earth Mama Angel Baby - Breastfeeding Support Kit

I absolutely love Earth Mama Angel Baby. Wonderful owner Melinda Olsen, hereby referred to as Mama, sent me much needed support at the end of my pregnancy in the form of some discomfort relieving products. She also sent me the Breastfeeding Support Kit and the C-section Healing Kit, as well as some heavenly products for my new baby girl (who had her first bath in their organic Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash). For this review, I will discuss the Breastfeeding Support Kit.

It contains:

Natural Nipple Butter: An amazing nipple cream that really helped me in the hospital and when we got home.
1) It soothed my really, really sore nipples (my baby had a poor latch)
2) It was safe to nurse your baby after using it
3) It smelled positively divine (wow!!)
This cream is made from cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter and healing calendula. And it is lanolin-free. Since most nipple creams are made OF lanolin, I was a little curious about that. The company says on its site,

Lanolin is used as a moisture barrier, but some are concerned about trace pesticide and antibiotic residue. Another concern is wool allergy.

Bosom Buddies: An organic herbal breast compress. The herbs come loose with two little muslin bags. You brew the compresses and then use them for sweet relief. These were amazing to use and helped me to heal. And yes, I made these in my hospital room -- I was in so much pain that I broke them out as soon as I started to get sore.

Milkmaid Tea: A great lactation tea (very yummy). Mama describes it as,

Herbal galactagogues wrangle lethargic milk ducts in this battle for the lactating-est bosoms in the universe...Milkmaid Tea is a delicious blend of herbal galactagogues, herbs traditionally used to help increase breast milk supply.

The way I brewed this tea (yes, loose tea can be a little daunting) is that I boiled water and then put one tablespoon loose tea per cup of water and let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Then I took a little kitchen strainer and strained the tea into another container. It sounds harder to make than it really is. You can enjoy it hot or iced (I have been enjoying this one iced). The company says to drink 2-3 cups a day. It's organic and caffeine free. This is a very popular product and I know a lot of moms who rave about it. Add me to that list! In fact, as I write this review, I am drinking it iced.

Booby Tubes: Great name, great way to treat sore breasts. They are a gel-free breast pack with an organic cotton shell filled with flax seed. Freeze to help with engorgement. Or microwave to comfort the symptoms of infection or mastitis, or even to encourage milk flow, promote let-down, and maintain open milk ducts to prevent clogged ducts. It is heaven! I have used it both ways to help. This is a must have for breastfeeding moms.

The Breastfeeding Support Kit retails for $49.99 and is a great, thoughtful gift for a new mom. If you are anything like me, I didn't admit I needed help with breastfeeding the first time I became a mom. I am a little smarter this time, I made sure I met with a good lactation consultant, and I had products around to help me feel better and boost my milk supply. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Breastfeeding Support Kit is donated to the Libby Ross Foundation  and Le Leche League.

Shop Earthmamaangelbaby.com.

The Clean Burper: The way to burp

Don’t you love when you’re all ready to go out for the day or the evening and you pick up your little cutie pie and BAM, spit up on your outfit? My daughter has acid reflux and with that comes a lot of spit up no matter what medicine or formula she is on. Regular burp cloths are just not big enough to catch what my daughter so proudly leaves on my shoulder.

I recently ordered The Clean Burper after seeing an advertisement and I absolutely love it! Not only does it fit perfectly on your shoulder, but it absorbs well, is very soft and is the perfect size for Mom or Dad. It covers you really well back and front because let’s be honest, they don’t spit up in one direction! This is definitely my favorite new baby item to date!

You can get one at cleanburper.com for $20

For more of Doryn's reviews and tips, go to www.dorynsdish.com.

Organic Kallisto animals at Oompa Toys

Finding heirloom quality toys is hard enough. Finding heirloom quality toys that are also organic, is near impossible. Unless you head to Oompa Toys. They recently started carrying Kallisto animals.

Made in Germany, these are truly special friends for your child. Organic and luxury don't always go hand in hand. But they do in this case.

Kallisto animals are crafted from plush cotton and stuffed with natural sheep's wool. We checked out the white elephant. He's soft and cuddly and sure to soothe our baby. And I find it soothing to know that these animals are machine or hand washable. Choose from an menagerie of Kallisto critters at the always excellent Oompa Toys.

Gemmielou: Adorable handmade items

By CBB Guest Reviewer: Julie

Christmas was fast approaching and the one thing that my daughter  kept asking for over and over was a dollhouse. I searched high and  low to find a cute and affordable dollhouse. I found the perfect one,  but the dolls that came with it were hideous. I searched all over online and in stores and found nothing but typical plastic ones that just weren't going to cut it with the super cute wooden dollhouse I found. Then a light bulb went off in my head and I thought to myself "Why haven't I checked Etsy??" So off I went to one of my favorite sites -- www.Etsy.com.

If you haven't been to Etsy yet, beware. It's a site full of super  cute handmade items of all sorts. I did a search and to my surprise I found THE most adorable custom dolls ever at Gemmielou. I fell in love immediately, but wanted something a little different, so I sent a  message to the owner, Gemmie, and asked if she could make me customized dolls to look like my family. Gemmie said she would love to, so I sent her a few photos of us and just a few days later they  were done.

The perfect result is what you see pictured here but the really perfect thing was the look on my daughter's face on Christmas morning -- just priceless! Check out Gemmielou for a full selection of the custom dolls.

Why I Bought My ... iPhone

The word busy took on a whole new meaning for me when I became a mom. Aside from working a 60+ hour work-week, I also volunteer my time with a breastfeeding support group, toil away all day testing baby products to bring you these incredibly insightful reviews and, most important of all, put all my energy into parenting my two-year-old.  

After seamlessly juggling all this for a few months (yeah right!) I started really feeling like a slave to my computer. Checking my email, which I was obligated to do, was becoming the most hated part of my day. I have three email addresses where I receive multiple emails a day and I hated having to spend hours of my time checking and sorting through them. I decided I wanted some sort of Blackberry-type device, (I had seen Danielle emailing away on her Blackberry and craved one ever since) and ultimately decided on the iPhone.

There is no question about it: For a mom on-the-go the iPhone is ideal. For those of you who have been living under a rock, the iPhone is a multi-media, Internet-enabled mobile phone put out by Apple. What makes it different from other mobile devices is its touch-enabled screen which includes a virtual keyboard and buttons.

Click below to continue reading the iPhone review.

American Eagle Outfitters to launch 77kids for kids 2-10

Do your kids covet the casual preppy look their teenaged siblings sport from American Eagle Outfitters?  It can soon be theirs!  It was recently announced that the popular chain that targets 15-25 year olds will soon launch a children's clothing and accessories brand called 77kids by American Eagle for kids 2-10.  The line will launch online this year at www.77kids.com, with inline retail stores popping up in malls across the US in 2009. This seems to be influenced in part by the success of abercrombie kids, the 7-14 year old kid version of Abercrombie & Fitch.

American Eagle currently operates 854 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 75 AE stores in Canada, plus ae.com that ships to more than forty countries around the world.

Moon and Back Studios: Distinctive, hip stationery

Doesn’t it seem that as soon as you learn that you are pregnant you become a slave to stationery? What with thank you cards, birth announcements and birthday party invitations it seems that in the first year alone we spend all our money on paper! I, for one, am always looking for new custom stationery sites because I hate sending out paper goods that look just like the typical ones that everyone else sends out. Recently I discovered Moon and Back Studios, a stationery company dedicated to creating distinctive, hip stationery and gifts.

Moon and Back has the perfect selection of photo desktop calendars, personal notes, announcements and invitations. I love the paper they use and the colors print brightly, which I, personally, always look for. Included free in each order is the photo enhancement process, which makes all your photos look like professional ones (and which customers rave about).

If you are looking for a unique and custom stationery experience, think about choosing Moon and Back Studios for your next event.  Check out their full collection at www.moonandbackstudios.com. Exlcusively for CBB Readers: Enter ccbsave08 at checkout for 10% off your purchase of $50 or more.  Good through February 28th.

Organic Mother's Milk Tea from Traditional Medicinals

I absolutely love the Organic Mother's Milk Tea (around $5.49 per box of 16 tea bags) from Traditional Medicinals. I'm trying to boost my breast milk supply, so I'm drinking it because its a galactagogue -- which means it "promotes the secretion and flow of breast milk".  According to Traditional Medicinals' website, "This tea is based on one of the most widely used galactagogue formulas - this traditional combination of anise, fennel and coriander has been used is often recommended by lactation counselors and medical herbalists. Herbal teas containing anise and fennel have been approved as non-prescription herbal products for nursing mothers by health authorities in Europe."

I love the taste of this tea. It's a combination of spicy, sweet and a little bitter. The directions say to let it steep for 10-15 minutes. It uses tea bags, not loose tea (so you can pop a few in your diaper bag and take it out with you). To be effective, you have to drink between 3-5 cups per day -- which I don't find very hard, because I absolutely love drinking it. But if you are constantly on the go, you might want to keep some brewed already in the fridge and use your favorite water bottle to take it with you (I keep my SIGG Bottle filled). Traditonal Medicinals has been selling this tea for 30 years.  I have seen a difference in my milk production since I've started drinking it (and it does help that I think its delicious too).

Organic Mother's Milk Tea is certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) -- 90% organic, using herbs with no added flavors. It's also caffeine free.You should discuss with your doctor or lactation consultant whether it's for you -- especially if you are pregnant and currently nursing another child. Do not use if you have known allergies to aniseed, anethole or fennel or to plants of the Asteraceae (daisy) family such as blessed thistle, calendula, chamomile, echinacea, safflower or yarrow.

Ingredients: Organic bitter fennel fruit 875 mg, organic aniseed fruit 350 mg. Proprietary blend: Organic caraway fruit, organic nettle herb.

You can buy Organic Mother's Milk Tea  online at Traditional Medicinals' online store or in natural food stores.

Johnson's Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Wash and Baby Lotion: Bathe your babe in sweetness and softness

Bath time is a nightly ritual in my house and has been for a very long time now. I know that my child doesn't need one every night, but since I was a working mom who wanted her child to understand routine and to sleep well, I found it necessary to create a bed time ritual that didn't vary too much. My mom used JOHNSON'S original no tears formula on me when I was a kid, I remember the yellow bottle fondly, so when I made the choice for my child I stuck with a trusted brand.

A short while back Johnson's introduced a lavendar and vanilla formula that helped little ones sleep better. And while many people LOVED this product, I found that my nose was sensitive to lavendar and just couldn't use it with my child. That has left me with unscented product, until now! JOHNSON'S has just released it's Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Wash and Baby Lotion. This specially formulated baby wash and lotion combines an essence of vanilla with oatmeal (known to moisturize) for an incredibly, indulgent baby product.

Like all JOHNSON'S products they are mild and gentle -- the baby wash is even a No More Tears product! I really liked how soft they left my child's delicate skin and the sugary-sweet vanilla scent was very tame and didn't make my child reek of ice cream. I also was pleasantly suprised to find that her dry skin and sensitive skin patches didn't flare up, but rather soaked in the moisture from the oatmeal nicely.

The JOHNSON'S Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Wash and Baby Lotion will be available in food, drug and mass-market chain stores in early 2008 and each product retails for $3.49.

Adiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Baby Bottles

In December, Jennifer Lopez went on a huge shopping spree for her upcoming new additions (rumor has it that she's expecting twins), at LA's Petit Tresor. She got doubles of a lot of items, like a few double strollers and including 10 Adiri™ Natural Nurser™ Ultimate Baby Bottles. After using the Adiri™ Natural Nursers the past few weeks, I can see why! I love these bottles because of the bottle's unique breast and nipple shape (especially perfect for a newborn), the bottles are polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free and best of all, my newborn Allegra loves them.

The way you use the Adiri™ Natural Nurser™ Ultimate Baby Bottle is a little different from traditional bottles. You can store them upside down or right side - just make sure you use the cover sleeve if you keep the bottle upside down. I love that you can see how much you are putting in (with measurements). I pretty much only use EBM (expressed breast milk) in them. My whole family gets a kick out of them (we call them the boobie-shaped bottles). But the fact is, they are great bottles to use! 

Click below to continue reading the Adiri™ Natural Nurser™ Ultimate Baby Bottles.

Contest: Vaseline's "Skin is Amazing" campaign

Can you guess which celebrity’s skin this is?  This “mystery” celebrity joins other well-known stars including John Leguizamo, Amanda Bynes, Regina King, and Jacqueline Bisset in the Vaseline “Skin is Amazing” campaign to reveal what they find amazing about their own skin. Our body’s largest organ, skin defends against disease, protects you from the elements, and can even reveal your identity.  Think it reveals the identity of this famous actress based on her photos and clues about her personal skin story? 

Submit your guess to be entered for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip for two to the Vaseline Reveal Party on February 12, 2008 in New York City and “rub elbows” with stars featured in the campaign.

To enter, visit www.vaseline.com/skin  for clues and to submit your guess.
OR
Text the word "SKIN“ followed by the celebrity’s name to short-code 82222
Deadline to enter is January 31, 2008.

Everyone who guesses will be entered to win!

Plus, you can enter your own skin portrait here.

For clues and more info, click Continue Reading.

Mobi Digital Ultra Thermometer: Temperatures rising

Thermometers are a necessity. Every nursery needs one and you will use it, though hopefully not a lot! I recently got the Mobi Ultra Digital Thermometer, and I can't help but wonder where it's been all my life. My previous thermometer was the Braun Thermoscan IRT4520, and it did the job but lacked in features. The Mobi Ultra Digital Thermometer fills those gaps and then some.

First of all, it talks! It actually tells you your temperature when it does a reading and will recite the time and internal room temperature. Best of all, you can shut this feature off, if your poor child is resting during an illness and you need a silent reading.

It has a full digital display, with a backlight, that displays the current date, time and room temperature. The temperature read out screen is large and easy to see. My favorite feature is the mini flashlight for nighttime use without disturbing a sleeping child, it actually shines to help guide the tip to your target. And your target can be one of two spots, this thermometer can actually do a reading from the forehead or ear. Have I mentioned how fast it is? 2 Seconds! It does a reading in 2 seconds! My daughter can't even swat at it that fast.

I have to note that for infants and very young children, nothing is as accurate as a rectal thermometer. But, who really wants to go through all that. This thermometer will do the trick, and without the discomfort and mess! Find the Mobi Ultra Digital Thermometer ($30), here.

Dream Blankets from Aden and Anais: Nodding off in comfort

You've probably already heard the buzz about Aden and Anais' muslin swaddling blankets. These blankets have taken Hollywood and the rest of the country by storm. I fell in love with them right from the start. So I did not think that Aden and Anais could come out with another blanket style that I could love as much. But lo and behold, they have done it again!

Just in time for winter, Aden and Anais have released their new Dream Blanket ($59.95). It is aptly named because it is just dreamy to cozy up with. Made from six, soft, puffy layers of waffled muslin cotton, these blankets are unbelievably soft and snuggle worthy. The multiple layers provide just the perfect balance of warmth and breathe-ability so no worries about your child overheating. Equally fabulous, is the slightly larger size of these blankets -- They are large enough for a three year old toddler to cuddle up with and sure to be the most popular blanket in the house. And, they only get better and softer with each wash. There is something so soothing and pure about a muslin blanket. And in the layered form they are a small piece of blankie perfection.

Celebrity fans of Aden and Anais blankets include Patrick Dempsey, Jason Priestly and Naomi Lowde, Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, Naomi Watts and Liev Schrieber, Julia Roberts, and Jaime Pressly.

Exclusively for Celebrity Baby Blog Readers: Save $5 off your order when you use the coupon code CS001.

BoboBaby Food: Frozen and Far From Boring

As 2008 begins, I remind myself to count our myriad of blessings, including those that we enjoy daily, since we live in the greatest era in history to raise a baby. Life with baby is filled with every convenience imaginable -- if our great-grandmothers could see how we raise babies now. Disposable diapers (and that alone would probably qualify as the greatest invention in baby care), ready-to-feed baby foods, wipes warmers, disposable bibs, toys and teething gel and too many more to list. (I loved Teba's review recently of 'Boogie Wipes' never could have conceived of such a wonderful invention!) 

Harried parents with infants always open their arms to yet more smart conveniences, and I received a freezer full of them just before my 6-month old was ready to start solids, back in August. But convenience is just the opening act for this eye and taste bud-opening baby food. BoboBaby is a Vancouver-based baby food company that has developed a line of portion-sized frozen baby foods, all of which are certified organic, kosher, age-appropriate, and free of the top nine allergens. They also have some unique recipes to expose your little one's developing taste buds to flavors and combinations you may never have thought of.

Continue reading the BoboBaby Food review by clicking below.

Aimee Nursing Gowns: Va va voom!

Did you ever hear of a nursing nightgown that would instantly make you feel sexy? The ones I wore when my toddler was born two years ago had bunnies or chicks on them and were not anything that I remotely wanted to revisit. I also hated the large nursing flaps -- it looked like someone just cut really large circles out of it. Finally, I just gave up and slept in a tee shirt with the nursing bra underneath). I knew there were more glamorous nursing gowns out there, but being plus-sized, they wouldn't have fit.

This time around, with baby # 2, I was determined to find some nursing nightgowns that would be more attractive. I came across Aimee Nursing Gowns, and was thrilled to find out that they came in regular and plus sizes. Finally, I could ditch the cutesy animals and glam up! 

Owner Aimee of Aimee Nursing Gowns was kind enough to send me one of her stunning nightgowns ($41.95) right before I gave birth recently. After washing it, it went straight into my suitcase. About 3 days postpartum, I put this nursing gown on in the hospital and wow, I felt like I was channeling Sofia Loren! It was also so comfortable to sleep in and all the nurses remarked on how darling it was.

Sizes run from small, up to 1XL. And the 1XL was large on me, even right after I had the baby. I loved the criss cross top and generous fit -- the empire waist did wonders to hid my postpartum tummy. The colors available are black, white, lavender, sky blue, pink and cranberry. In the plus sizes, white and cranberry are not available. You can even get a coordinating wrap robe in S/M, M/L or L/XL (in either lavender, pink or black). Find one at nursingowns.com.

The Wupzey: Less mess at mealtime

Have you ever fantasized about getting a dog just so you'd no longer have to clean up the mess around the highchair? Do you find yourself spending way too much time on your hands and knees wiping up every tiny morsel of food that somehow missed your baby's mouth during mealtime? Are you mopping your floor more in a week than you did in an entire semester at college? Is it driving you as crazy as it drives me?

When I was asked to review the Wupzey -- a food catcher you attach to your high chair -- I jumped at the chance. Our 1-year-old Sam has pretty much destroyed our dining room rug.  He's what we call an enthusiastic eater with poor aim. Every meal was a disaster. And then we got our Wupzey!

Created by Johanna Romaniuk, a California mom, the Wupzey is a semi-circle shaped piece of 100% rip stop nylon. The Wupzey comes with several adhesive-backed Velcro squares that you affix to the sides of your high chair frame and tray; The curved portion of the Wupzey is elasticized, and goes behind the footrest. I was able to set up our Wupzey in about a minute, thanks to the picture-guided instructions offered on the Wupzey website.

Click below to continue reading the entire Wupzey review.

QuickZip Sheets from Clouds and Stars

My two year old was sick with an upset stomach a few nights ago. After my husband scooped him out of his crib, I had to quickly change his sheets. Usually changing a crib sheet is a hassle. You have to untie the bumpers, and even though it's supposed to be snug fitting for safety reasons, putting on a clean tight-fitting crib sheet when you are trying to get your baby back in their crib isn't very easy.

I have been testing out the Clouds and Stars' QuickZip Starter Set - which consists of the QuickZip Sheet and Zipper Base. Clouds and Stars was started by two moms, Joan and Elizabeth. When I had to quickly change my toddler's sheets the other night, I didn't have to untie his bumpers, all I had to do is unzip the QuickZip Sheet from the Zipper Base and zip on a fresh, clean QuickZip Sheet. After putting my son in new pajamas, he was back in a clean crib immediately.

Click continue reading below to read the entire QuickZip Sheets review.

PureKids Collection at Pure Pearls: High-quality heirloom jewelry

Often when looking to buy something to celebrate a special occasion or milestone in a child’s life we think about jewelry. I know that when my daughter was baptized I really wanted to buy her a piece of jewelry that she would be able to treasure as an adult and possibly pass onto a child of her own one day.

If you are looking for heirloom-type jewelry you might want to check out the new PureKids collection at Pure Pearls. Offering high-quality, fine pearl jewelry at exceptional discount prices, the Pure Pearls team of experts bring you the top 3% of their exclusive harvests. By sourcing pearls straight from the pearl farms, they are able to cut the middleman and bring incredible wholesale prices to their customers without sacrificing quality.

Click continue reading below to read the rest of the PureKids Collection at Pure Pearls review.

Trans Am Sofa from SoFine Kids: The best seat in the house

I have a favorite sofa in my house. Sadly it is too small for me to sit on. But it is just the perfect size for my 3 year old. It is a Trans Am sofa from SoFine Kids. That's right, my boy has a Trans Am!

My son may not be old enough to appreciate the retro chic, automotive-inspired styling and easy wipe-clean vinyl upholstery on his iconic, little sofa. But he's just thrilled to have a perfectly scaled piece of furniture to lounge on. And I imagine, when he sits on his little sofa, he is envisioning himself in the driver's seat.

If you have never laid eyes on SoFine Kids sofas, you had better brace yourself. Three of the site's four sofas are named for classic cars - the Mustang, the Trans Am and the Chevy (pictured on the right). Just looking at them made my heart race. Matching your decor is not an issue as the sofas come in dozens of color choices to suit any gender child and any room color scheme. Choosing just one is the tough part. These sofas are extremely well made and durable, and will make for many fond memories and cherished hand me downs. They are extremely well priced for fine kids' furniture as well - running from $225 to $245. And you'll be happy to hear -- shipping is free!

Stokke Xplory: Space age meets stroller

Stokke is a company that believes in having a baby close to you and how that will help further develop and foster your bond. And they carry this concept through all of their consumer products, from stroller to high chair to changing table.

The Stokke Xplory is one of the most amazing strollers I've ever laid eyes on, both in what it can do and how it looks while it does it. This stroller is as much a conversation piece as it is functional, and believe me it does both really well. Danielle originally reviewed this stroller last year, you can read her take on this stroller, here.

It's also a tinsel town magnet, as Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Heidi Klum, Christina Aguilera, Tori Spelling, Angelina Jolie and Courteney Cox-Arquette are among the celebrities who have owned this innovative stroller.

Click below to read the entire, comprehensive review and see detailed pictures of the Stokke Xplory.

Why I bought my... Zolowear Ring Sling

At press time, my newborn daughter is 2 weeks old and is already a babywearing pro. I have been wearing her in my favorite ring sling, my ZoloWear Bubbles Sling ($125). In fact, she is nestled in the sling as I type this. I loved wearing her brother in this ring sling (pictured to the left is my son at 10 months old with me at my aunt Carol's house in Connecticut). Please note: I am not wearing the sling correctly on my shoulder, it should cup the shoulder, not rest between the shoulder and the neck. It will cause strain that way (but this is the best picture I had of me wearing it!).

I bought this ring sling because I had heard that the ZoloWear slings had a good reputation. ZoloWear makes ring slings and pouches (which I love too, but since baby Allegra is so small right now, the ring sling is a better choice for me) Its well made of cotton stretch sateen, and I love the print - unfortunately it is not sold anymore. Owner Darien's slings and pouches are available in cotton (and there are organic cotton choices), silk brocade and solarveil (which I also love for its sun protection and quick drying after exposure to water).  I also loved that it has a zippered pocket - perfect size for a set of keys or a pacifier. ZoloWear includes an instructional DVD to show you all the ways to wear your child. Right now I am wearing baby Allegra in the tummy to tummy hold with her legs out (the picture shows my son Ben in a classic hip hold).

Why have I been wearing my baby? Well ... I have a very active 2 year old, who needs me, plus a 2 week old who loves to be carried and screams when I put her down. When I wear the new baby,  I have at least one hand to get things done. You have to use common sense when wearing your baby -- though I can prepare cold meals, I put the baby down when I cook or heat things up in the microwave. Then I scoop her back into the sling and sit with my son while he eats. And of course, the closeness of my child makes me happy. ZoloWear's website does caution to make sure the baby is worn WITHOUT their chin being pressed against his or her chest, restricting airflow. Check to ensure that baby's airway is unobstructed and baby is breathing regularly at all times, especially when sleeping. This advice should be followed anytime you babywear.

To shop, go to ZoloWear.com.

Cooshee Changer: One cool changing pad

I am sure you've heard of the Cooshee Booster Seats (now called the Cooshee Booster Classic) -- my neighbor downstairs has owned one for years and swears by it!  Babysmart, USA, the company behind them, recently came out with a changing pad called the Cooshee Changer ($59.99). Headed up by mom of three, Diane Zissu, this company keeps coming out with terrific baby and toddler-friendly products.

Since my toddler was always so ... um ... messy in the diaper department, keeping those terry cloth covers on his contoured changing pad was useless. I was washing them everyday; I would rather have just wiped something down. So I used the vinyl pad underneath, but after a year of using this pad, it's kind of destroyed and ripped. Our own Ciaran tipped me off to how cool the Cooshee Changer looked. I loved it immediately because it didn't need to be used with a cover and is easily cleanable (and non-toxic). We tested out the new dark blue "bluebird" color.

Testing it with a 2 year old: Yes, it was a little smaller than my currently changing pad, but the high sides and built in pillow easily contained my tall 2 year old. It was soft and did not get cold like our other changing pad. It easily fit on our changing table. My toddler stayed put on it, because the high sides really contained him --  which was not the case with the vinyl pad we had been using. Ben usually tries to bolt as soon as I get him on the changing table. The Cooshee Changer was comfortable and nicely padded (and it wasn't cold like the vinyl pad is in the middle of the night). I think the word I would use is cushy!! It's made of a micro-cell foam with an anti-bacterial surface. I loved that it was lightweight and waterproof. Also, it's non-allergenic and not made with latex. You can use a baby wipe to quickly clean it off.  And it is a cool as it looks!!

Testing it with a newborn: I had planned to use it primarily with our new baby girl and I am happy to report that it worked even better than with my two year old. My twp year old child is still sleeping in the nursery, and the baby is sleeping in our room, while the Cooshee Changer is currently in our den. Since I also had a C-Section, you can bring this changer anywhere in your house (like on the bed) and easily change your baby without fear of making a mess.   It elevates my baby's head and I was also really pleased that the raised sides all around the changer contain the baby's diaper mishaps (even the middle of the night diaper blowouts). It is also so easy to clean up afterwards. I also liked that it did not skid on the wicker trunk we use as coffee table (but I would still keep one hand on the baby if you have to turn away). I highly recommend adding this to your registry or gifting- it's a highly useful baby gift (and super cute too). I absolutely love using this changing pad! 

Recommended ages are birth to age 3.

Go to Babysmart, USA  to find a retailer or do a search on thefind.com.

The Original Little Sprout: Products for kids with curls

When I was a little girl I hated my hair. My mother’s hair is pin straight and, of course, she had no clue how to tame my wild mane. Because of that, my hair was never curly, nor straight, but a crazy, frizzy mess that she would brush out and that I would more often than not ask her to pull away from my face.

I’m sure anyone with curly hair can relate to what I’m about to say but in the 7^th grade I discovered gel and it completely transformed my life. By the end of Junior High School my gel and I had gotten to know each other so well that my curls blossomed and some semblance of an actual hair style had begun to emerge. Though I was learning to make peace with my curls, I still carried around a lot of insecurities about my former frizz, and often found it unnerving (and slightly unbelievable) that other girls would occasionally mention how much they envied my hair.

Click below to continue reading the entire The Original Little Sprout Review.

Bravado Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra: The perfect nursing bra to add to your collection

I have long been a fan of Bravado’s nursing bras. I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for more than three years now and I have been wearing Bravado from the very start. I started with an Original Basic nursing bra while I was pregnant with my first son and have loved Bravado ever since. Since then I have added several more Originals, basic and plus styles, and Nursing Tanks and they have been my long time favorites. Now, I've added the new Body Silk Seamless nursing bra to that list and I love it. It has the same full drop away cup and great fit that I love in my other Bravado bras plus a few new additions that make it exceptional.

Bravado says that it’s “designed to melt into your body” and it does. I love wearing it because it is so comfortable. The fabric is soft and stretchy and the straps are just wide enough to be comfortable and stay put. It looks nice too. If it didn’t have the clips for the drop away cups, you probably wouldn’t know it’s a nursing bra. And it does have a seamless look too, aided by the removable molded foam pads that give a thicker cup to hide any bumps underneath, even breast pads. The clips really are one handed and easy to open and close. It is also shaped like a regular bra, so it looks good under clothing without showing (like the racer-back of the Original tends to do in some tops). Another thing I really like is that it is sized S- XL, which, like the Original, offers a wider size range per bra as opposed to regular bra sizing. It makes it so much easier to use the bra throughout pregnancy and after, as well as the size variations of nursing.

The new Body Silk Seamless nursing bra is just that -- seamless under clothes, silky soft and a joy to wear.  It’s so comfortable and invisible that nobody, not even you, will know you’re wearing it. Visit www.bravadodesigns.com to see more about this great bra, as well as all of the other wonderful Bravado products.  Also visit the site to enter Bravado’s $1000 prize pack contest through 11 AM  January 31, 2008.

iBert safe-T-seat: Bicycle safely with your toddler on board

By CBB Guest Reviewer: Kat C.

From the second we got the iBert safe-T-seat box, my toddler Kenzie was attracted to the vibrant green seat. She knew this was something for her and just her size. We decided that even though it was 45 degrees out that we would still go out for family bike ride. We have had our eyes on this bike seat for months!

My husband John took on the role of putting the seat onto his bike and Kenzie wanted to help, too! The box came with very detailed directions with photos. These were very easy to read and it only took 8 minutes to adjust his bike and 10 more minutes to attach the safe-T-seat to his bike. Even with a curious toddler on your side, it can assembled very quick and easy. As the assembling continued, Kenzie grew more and more excited that this vibrant green seat was for her to sit in!

We had never taken Kenzie on a bike before and luckily, she was not at all intimidated by this seat. John put the bike on our bike rack on our suv and it was easy and quick. Once we got to the bike trail we loaded Kenzie into the safe-T-seat. It was very easy to get the 3-point harness over her head, and even over her snowsuit and jacket! Her eyes lit up and she was thrilled instantly. There is plenty of leg room and space throughout the seat for the riding child. The lap bar is fantastic, it gave her a place to put her hands and feel in control.

Off we went...our family in 45 degree weather. We were a bit nervous that it would be too cold, but once we started biking, Kenzie was in heaven. The bike had perfect balance. John's vision was not impaired at all. Kenzie insisted he bike "FASTER!" I could see her moving her hands in the direction the bike was going and I could hear her say, "VROOM! VROOM!" It was an absolutely priceless day biking. As other bikers passed by, they were amazed at this seat and what it could do. I can't wait to spread the word and tell Kenzie's friends to get their dads to buy one of the iBert safe-T-seats. We can't wait to go out for another family bike ride!

To read more about the safe-T-seat ($90) and its benefits and uses check out ibertinc.com, you can also order one on their site or find a local retailer.

Baby Beltz: Keep your pants on!

My little guy has a narrow waist. If I don't have the exact sizing right, his pants fall down!  This recently happened when we were up at my inlaws. The jeans he was wearing had one of those adjustable buttons with elastic (which promptly broke when I tried to tighten the waist).  My father-in-law rigged up something with a safety pin, but I kept wishing I had a belt for my kid!

Enter South Florida mom Katie Safriet and her business Baby Beltz. She had the same problem I did, her baby son's pants kept falling down also. So, she created her own belts for little ones -  and it turned into a successful business! Katie sent me the boyz rocker stud belt with a D-Ring buckle that easily held my son's jeans up. This belt was recently featured in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine in a story about the Rock Star Baby. Since we aren't really toilet training yet, the belt worked wonderfully and was so cute! And his pants didn't fall down (yeah!!).   Each belt retails for $18 and comes in sizes 0- 6 months, 6-12 months, 12- 24 months, 2- 4 years and 4 -6 years.

Choose from several types of buckles: Nickel d-rings, rhinestone buckles, velcro adjustable buckles, and military buckles. You can choose boy, girl or unisex styles. In the girls'