Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews

Kushies Cloth Diapers: Our adventure with cloth diapering

I was shocked at how many disposable diapers we were using per day for my two kids. Then I pictured all of those diapers in a landfill. Scary, huh? So, I decided to try cloth diapers from Kushies for our 5-month-old (and stepped up the potty training for my toddler). There are a few factors for me to consider when it comes to cloth diapering: We live in an apartment and we use coin operated washing machines in the basement. Due to schedules, I can only do laundry a few nights a week. What was I going to do with soiled diapers? How much was it going to cost to wash all these diapers and would I have to wash them multiple times? Since we had just gotten a new diaper pail, the Diaper Dékor Plus, I used it to store the soiled ones. When I needed to use a disposable diaper, I would just use my old pail.

I was really impressed with Kushies' Cloth Diapers. Baby Allegra loved them from the start -- they were so soft and comfortable for her. We tried the Classic Infant Diapers 5 pack ($57.25) and the Diaper Wraps ($8.60 each) -- which you can put over the diaper to give it a little extra absorbency during nighttime, naptime, etc. Kushies' diapers are made with 8 layers of 100% cotton flannelette. They have velcro tabs, so no diaper pins needed. They have a special flap allowing for more absorbency (folded in front for boys and in the middle for girls). The prints are very cute too. During the summer, they can even look like part of an outfit. I definitely had loads of questions - how to wash, etc., but I easily found the answers in their FAQ's.

Click Continue Reading for the rest of the review & an exclusive coupon code.

Diaper Dékor Plus: A hands-free diaper pail that will bring a smile to your face

I feel like the Goldilocks of diaper pails. I've tried so many since I became a parent, but I think I've found a winner -- the Diaper Dékor Plus ($39.99). It's a hands-free diaper disposal system (which means no touching dirty diapers) and it uses biodegradable refills.

The first system we tried when my son was born two years ago was a very popular one, but you had to push the diapers in. It broke after the lid cracked. The second one was the same kind and broke a few months later when that lid twisted off, this time for good. The third system was so top heavy that it fell over often -- and yes, you also had to stick your hand in that one too. Now, we are on our fourth system, the Diaper Dékor Plus, imported by Regal+Lager.  For the first time, I can actually say I love a diaper disposal system -- because I don't have to stick my darn hand in!! Just push a foot pedal and drop it in! Buh-Bye smelly diaper!

Butt-Ums Up Baby: For a Stylish Change

I'm fanatical about always being prepared for a quick change anywhere, anytime. In the car, at Grandma's house, in the family room, at the park and the mall -- wherever I go with my baby, I need a fully stocked changing kit close by! Which is why I love these compact stylish changing kits from Butt-ums Up Baby.

Cloaked in fun minky fabric and sized just right to hold your wipes and 2 to 4 diapers, these handy kits are perfect for use at home and on the go. The entire kit unrolls in a flash, one-handed. The changing surface is waterproof and generously-sized and the wipes and diapers are stored right where you need them. Near the baby's butt! The Butt-ums up Baby changing kit is small enough to fit in a large diaper bag and convenient enough to throw in or clip onto your stroller for walks to the park or traveling. The kit is machine washable, if things get messy.

If you love to make matchy with all your accessories, check out Butt-ums Up Baby's receiving blankets and travel blankets. Made from coordinated super soft minky fabrics and silky satins, these blankets soothe and comfort babies at home or on the go.

Shop the entire line at the Butt-ums Up Baby website.

Baby Sparewear: Saving you, and celebrity moms too

It happens to the best babies. The public blowout, the sudden spit up, the mashed potato mess. And though you try and prepare yourself for the inevitable, it's easy to get caught out without a change of clothes. Even veteran diaper bag packers such as myself have been known to dress their poor soiled babies in little more than a paper napkin and rush home for a change. For shame!  The problem I had in the past was not having a designated disaster preparedness kit like the one that Baby Sparewear so excellently puts together. Sure I have been known to toss an extra tee in the bag, but then my husband uses it and I forget to check when I head out on the next trip.  We all know this story has a baby wearing a paper napkin at the end, right? And do you like how I blamed my husband?

Kuster Jellybaby Change Mat & Bath Toy Storage: Change' em and clean 'em

A few weeks ago, my toddler came down with Shingles (luckily they were not painful, just a contagious rash). We realized our baby could be exposed through contact on our changing table, which she shares with our son. We had just received Küster's Jellybaby Change Mat ($69.99), which fit right onto the current changing pad on our changing table. Weeks later, my son is fine and we're actually still rotating the different changing pads for both kids (because it really helped to keep things sanitary). The Jellybelly Change Mat comes with a terrycloth cotton liner and fits all standard change stations. Available in blue, cream and pink, the mat is made of very comfortable memory foam and is never cold (important for those middle of the night diaper changes!). The mat is very easy to clean and comes in a plastic carry bag, which is good because this one will be coming on car trips with us. We love it!

If you are anything like us, you have too many bath toys in your bathroom and never have a good place to keep them. We were using a sand toy bucket, but when you toss wet plastic bath toys in it with no ventilation, they got moldy. We ended up throwing out a bunch and and had to buy more. This time, we tried laying them out on a towel to dry, but it took up too much room in our small bathroom. We found a solution in Küster's Bath Toy Storage Pail ($24.99). It's actually two pails together -- one with holes on the bottom that fits into a solid pail. It's designed to scoop up and hold the wet toys and then allow them to drain free of water -- you simply tip the water out afterward. It's also very compact and comes with handles. It takes up less room than the other bucket we were using. Now if my husband would just build a shelf to keep it on....

Buy Küster products at barebabies.com.

CBB Deal: Use code: cbb10offkuster for 10% off.

 

CBB's Top Registry Picks: Nancy's 'must-have' baby items!

Looking for some advice on some great baby-buys?  Check out our new series -- CBB Registry -- where our staff fills you in on their 'must-have' baby products.  Fashion, babywearing, strollers, bottles...we cover it all!

Today we're featuring one of our reviewers, Nancy, and her baby essentials.

Click below for Nancy's registry!

CBB's Top Registry Picks: Stephanie's 'must-have' baby items!

Looking for some advice on some great baby-buys?  Check out our new series -- CBB Registry -- where our staff fills you in on their 'must-have' baby products.  Fashion, babywearing, strollers, bottles...we cover it all!

Today we're featuring one of our reviewers, Stephanie, and her baby essentials.

Click below for Stephanie's registry!

CBB's Top Registry Picks: Reva's 'must-have' baby items!

Looking for some advice on some great baby-buys?  Check out our new series -- CBB Registry -- where our staff fills you in on their 'must-have' baby products.  Fashion, babywearing, strollers, bottles...we cover it all!

Today we're featuring one of our reviewers, Reva, and her baby essentials.

Click below for Reva's registry!

Blueberry Diapers: Cloth diapers for any and everyone!

Lets get one thing straight. I'm not all that crunchy. I have no beef (or tofurky as the case may be) with crunchy folks but my ongoing attachment to my flatiron sort of prevents me from ever being labeled granola. Nevertheless, I have a healthy amount of guilt/concern about all the non-biodegradable disposable diaper refuse that my three kids created. So for #4 I vowed to try cloth. It sounds altruistic of me, and it is. Mostly. But to be completely honest it happened right after I saw how cute cloth diapering has become -- the minky fabrics, the soft microfibers and cottony soft velour. What's not to love? Uh, washing a bunch of poopy diapers sprang to mind. Well it turns out that it's not all that bad.

The first cloth diapers we began to use with our tiny bottomed newborn were from Blueberry Diapers. They were the perfect starters because they were the only ones that fit and did not leak or make him look like an oompa loompa with a bad case of junk-in-the-trunk-itis. Much as one size diapers are economical, they are also comically bulky on a newborn. Blueberry offers a nice assortment of styles with either snaps or Velcro.

Click here for the entire Blueberry Diapers review.

CLENE Change Mat: Make a CLENE Change!

I've found a new perfect changing mat! Not only is the CLENE Change Mat well designed and affordably priced at $25, it’s huge, cushy and folds into its own carry pouch. It's made from NeoClene® (not PVC) with natural bamboo, so not only is it nicely padded, but antimicrobial and mold-resistant too! With a 30”Wx231/2”L surface– it is large enough for backseat diaper changes. Storage pockets are smartly placed for easy access during changes. Easy to clean and quick drying too.

I'm really impressed with this mat. I keep one in my diaper bag and one lives in my stroller. I love the turquoise color and the Velcro stroller strap comes in handy.

Celebrity fans of the CLENE line include Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, Adam Sandler, Denise Richards, Carnie Wilson, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Tia Carrere, Renee and Scott Baio, Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn, and Brooke Shields and Chris Henchy.

You can get your CLENE Change Mat by visiting OneStepAhead.com.

Plus, visit my favorite coupon code site RetailMeNot for a current coupon code (right now they list BDAYAPRL for 15% through April 30th).

Kissaluvs: All-natural luv for your baby's tush

As a former cloth diapering (CD) mom I’m often asked what brand of diapers I recommend. Like most moms who CD I have a few brands that I’m loyal to and Kissaluvs is a brand that falls into that category. Hand-made form all natural fibers, Kissaluvs diapers are unbleached, dye-free and are a blend of organic hemp and certified organic cotton.  This brand specifically is one of the better known ones in the industry, however, they are sold through (and therefore support) Work At Home Mom (WAHM) businesses and "mom & pop" retailers.

Click here to read the entire Kissaluvs review.

Happy Heinys: A cloth diaper that makes life easier

By CBB Guest Reviewer: Louise W.

If you are looking to be a little greener, and have decided to use cloth diapers instead of disposables, look no further than one size Happy Heinys. There are several reasons people make the jump to cloth; you may not want to use chemicals, contribute to the landfill or simply you want your baby’s bottom to be just as cute as the rest of their wardrobe.

Happy Heinys offers a full line of cloth diapers, wool, products for mom and tote bags. I love the One Size Pocket Diaper. This, to me, is the easiest diaper system you can buy.

Click continue reading for the entire Happy Heinys review.

Polka Dot Frogs: A fresh take on a new favorite

Looking for a thoughtful gift for a girlfriend expecting her second (or third, or fourth) child?  Try a burp cloth/diaper clutch set from Polka Dot Frogs, and give her a little something for baby and for solo outings with the new big brother or sister.  Owner Stacy Lang, a mother of three, says she started Polka Dot Frogs both as a way to showcase her love of beautiful fabrics and as a way to share with others a more simplified approach to being out and about with baby. Two weeks ago we received the gift set in lime, and I'm definitely impressed with Stacy's products.

Click continue reading for the entire Polka Dot Frogs review.

Wet Happened: No problem with these wet bags

I'm taking on a new challenge with this new baby. I'm giving cloth diapering a try. And with this endeavor comes a whole host of unfamiliar equipment and supplies, some with terms I have never heard of before.

One of these items is a "wet bag". This is essentially a waterproof bag, designed to hold wet diapers or wet clothes, in your diaper bag, until you get them home to wash them. Who knew that an item designed to hold your dirties, could be so adorable? Well it can be -- at least when you order your Wet Happened wet bag from Minimebabygear.

Wet Happened bags are practical for non cloth diaperers as well, as a place to stash soiled clothes in your diaper bag, or anything that might be wet or leaky. When you get home you can toss the bag in the wash along with soiled items and reduce the ick factor of having to touch the dirties.

Why I bought my ... Skip Hop Pronto Diaper Changing Kit

Skip Hop's Pronto Diaper Changing Kit is one of my favorite baby products. I literally never leave home without it (because with a baby and a toddler, someone's always going to need a diaper change)!  Danielle had introduced me to the Pronto ($30 for the canvas, $38 for the denim version) in 2006 and I fell in love with it, because it freed me from the diaper bag. As a new mom, I tended to pack too much stuff anyway. Consequently, juggling my squirming needs-to-be changed baby and a huge diaper bag, wasn't fun. It was so much easier to grab the Pronto, take my baby into the restroom or wherever I was changing him, and take care of business. I also felt better using the Pronto on a germ-filled changing table in a restroom.

Click continue reading for the entire Skip Hop Pronto Diaper Changing Kit review.

Pineapple Cove Baby: Add a little glamour to your diaper changes

An on-the-go diaper change, for obvious reasons, should be as simple as possible. But there's no unspoken rule that it needs to take place on a drab piece of nondescript vinyl, either. In an attempt to balance the need for simplicity with a woman's need for style, Deborah Stepler launched Pineapple Cove Baby two years ago, and has since gifted celebrity moms like Melissa Joan Hart, Holly Robinson Peete and Gwen Stefani with items from her upscale 'Simple Change Diapering Collection.' Consisting of an infant change pad, a diaper wallet and a toddler change pad -- each of which are available in a selection of 8 fabric/trim combinations -- Pineapple Cove's products add a glamorous touch to the decidedly non-glamorous practice of changing a diaper.

Lilly Gold: Where products pull double (and triple!) duty

I am usually skeptical of products that try to be everything to everyone.  It's just been my personal experience that the product turns out to be much better at being one thing over the other, and at that point, why not just get two different products and have both jobs done equally well?  When I was asked to review two offerings from Lilly Gold -- their Nap-Sac and the LillyPad -- I have to admit, my inner alarm began to sound.  Both products have multiple intended uses, and I was prepared to be disappointed, but I was happily proven quite wrong. 

Click 'continue reading' for the complete Lilly Gold Nap-Sac and LillyPad review.

Pampers Swaddlers: The magical diaper for us!

by CBB guest reviewer Keila

When I had my daughter I tried many different diapers in search for the right one, only to try Pampers Swaddlers when she was already growing out of them. With my second child, a son, I knew from the start that he would be a Pampers Swaddlers baby.

This is the magical diaper for us! Pampers Swaddlers has an amazingly soft quilted cloth-like cover that literally "swaddles" the baby in softness. Even the leak barriers on the legs feel like soft cloth. The quilted cover is a great way to blanket the baby in softness as well as protect his skin. You must see it to believe it. They have easy-to-adjust fasteners so that no matter what the baby's size is, he or she will get a personal and comfortable fit! The fasteners have Velcro so that they easily attach and un-attach from the waist band. I love the fact that these fasteners are soft and overlapping.  Even the tiniest baby can have a custom fit by overlapping the fasteners.

The legs of these diapers have two leak barriers. The barriers surround the entire leg of the diaper, trapping moisture and preventing leaks. There is an Absorb Away Liner to help lock in wetness keeping baby comfy and dry. I tested it out and it really works. I poured 2 ounces of water into a dry diaper and within 40 seconds the water was fully absorbed. That’s when my curiosity sparked. I thought the liner was just the mesh-like layer in the inside of the diaper, but when I ripped that open, I found the Absorb Away Liner. Under that was a real cotton-like material, and under that, was the part of the diaper with the gel, that absorbs everything (see picture). With other diapers that gel like material is found closer to the surface, and that’s why sometimes parents find pieces of it on the baby’s bottom. Not with the Pampers Swaddlers! I haven’t once seen this residue on my baby.

My only complaint about this diaper is that they are only made for infants. I wish they made them in all sizes. But that’s OK -- They're especially made for the brand new additions in this world. They are precious and need to be treated with the best.  No wonder both hospitals that I gave birth in chose Pampers Swaddlers. Pampers Swaddlers is now available in size 2-3, which is up to 22 pounds!  I can live with that.

For more reviews of Pampers Swaddlers and other diapers and wipes in their Pampers Stages line, read our Mega-Review here.

Bella Tunno: Fashion, function and philanthropy collide

Sometimes a company comes along with a fresh, unique take on a wide range of products, and I recently found one in Bella Tunno. Using patterns that are hip without being brash, and offering items that are needed but surprisingly hard-to-come-by (a stylish play smock where even the pockets are laminated!), Bella Tunno is a great place to visit if you're looking for a knock-your-socks-off gift without a knock-your-socks-off price tag. The company's accessory line has been included in the Golden Globe Awards baby gift bags, the Oscar Gift Basket and the MTV Style Lounge. We recently reviewed several Bella Tunno items -- the Diaper Ditty Wristlet, the Designer Diner Chalk Mat and the Laminated Smock -- and loved all three.

The Play Smock ($30) is the total package -- style and substance! Owen is very much into painting and helping me cook, so his smock (in the Wonder Boy print; See picture above-left) has gotten a lot of use already.  I'm pleased to say that it's held up beautifully. The smock is completely laminated, pockets included, and it's also machine washable. It ties at the back and at the neck, so you get a really snug fit, which I find to be a refreshing change from the traditional loose, bulky smocks that always strike me as awkward on a small child. If you know a budding artist or chef who has no interest in being a wallflower, this would make a great gift. Coco Arquette certainly thinks so!  The 3 1/2-year-old daughter of actors Courteney Cox and David Arquette was recently gifted with one, and in a handwritten note to Bella Tunno, Coco (though we suspect it was written by Courteney!) called Bella Tunno's play smocks a "great idea" that "saves my pretty dresses." 

The Diaper Ditty Wristlet ($36) is a diaper clutch -- part of an emerging trend to minimize the traditional diaper bag for moms who need only the barest of diapering essentials while on-the-go. Ditties unfold to hold a travel case of wipes, a few diapers and some "mom essentials" in a back pocket with Velcro closure.  We tested the 'Animal Chic' print and found the ditty to be both fashionable and sturdy.  And the gold wristlet/loop was a nice, quirky, touch -- Our ditty is hanging on the knob of our coat closet door, just as Bella Tunno intended it to be!  Everywhere I go with the ditty, I get asked about it, and who doesn't love that feeling?

I love the idea behind the Designer Diner Chalk Mat ($22). The Designer Diner is a wipeable playmat ideal for use in restaurants or other public settings, only with a twist -- It reverses to a reusable chalkboard, and comes complete with chalk and detachable chalk holder.  We tested the 'Ocean Breeze' design and it is absolutely adorable. The Designer Diner folds up neatly and could easily be stashed in a large pocketbook, a diaper bag, or even your glove compartment.  It's just the perfect distraction for a fidgety toddler, whether you're waiting for a meal or waiting for a traffic light to turn green.

Founder Michelle Tunno Buelow started Bella Tunno as a means of raising funds to finish her late brother's doctorial project, and although she met that goal in late 2005, her commitment to charitable giving continues. With a stated purpose of proving that "fashion, function and philanthropy can co-exist," Michelle still donates a portion of all proceeds to drug-rehabilitation related organizations in memory of her brother. Bella Tunno's products can be found in more than 1,500 domestic and international upscale boutiques, or ordered online at Bella Tunno. 

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Use code CELEBRITY20 for a 20% discount off your entire purchase.

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!

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.

Kalencom Stroller Straps and Quick Change Kit: Making life easier with two new products

Kalencom makes some really great products. Their diaper bags are functional, attractive and reasonably priced.  And, I love that Kalencom products are made from environmentally-friendly Phthalate and AZO-free materials. The two products that I received are great additions to the Kalencom collection and extend the usefulness of their line as well as any other bag you might use. The Stroller Straps (lower right) allow you to turn any bag into a stroller bag. They're offered in 10 colors, so you can match them to your bag or stroller or you can just choose the colors you like.  They're easy to attach and remove, so you can leave them in place or move them around as needed.  And at $5.00 per pair, you can have as many as you want. 

The new Quick Change Kit (upper left) is offered in the same 10 colors as the straps and is just as handy.  It unfolds to provide a long changing pad (12”x30”) and 2 zipper compartments, one with a wipes case.  The changing surface wipes clean easily, which is always an important trait for a changing pad.  The exterior front has another zippered pocket and a handle. When folded it is just 12”x8” and will fit neatly into just about any bag. It holds just enough to take it out on it’s own for quick trips and it makes a great back-up bag to leave in the car or the stroller.  It also makes it super easy to switch between bags or to use a regular purse or tote since it can hold all of your essentials. It's also very reasonably priced, it retails for $24.

The more children you have, the more you look for products that make your life easier and help you stay organized amongst the chaos. Both of these products can do that and at very reasonable prices which is always welcome. It is so nice to be able to ease the transition between too many diaper bags and strollers when you’re running out the door. Visit www.kalencom.com for more information on these two great products and to see what else Kalencom has to offer.

Ubi Baby Changing Table: A change of art

The Ubi Baby changing table is not only a work of art, it is also state of the art. It's so revolutionary it will make you embrace change! That's because it is so perfectly well thought out to accomplish this task.

Ubi Baby has designed a bent plywood changing table is as sleek and curvacious as a piece of fine postmodern furniture. But the gently sloped surface boasts baby friendly cushy padding and wipe clean surfaces. It is surprisingly lightweight and easily carried from room to room. The color choices are also fresh and modern - pinks, blues, lime and brown in dots,stripes or hip squares. Wood color choices include natural and cherry.

But of course the cleverest part of the Ubi changing table is the integrated pop up diaper dispenser on the deluxe model ($119). This is genius folks. No more fumbling around awkwardly for a diaper. It's already there, perfectly positioned in place. You simply unfold the dirty diaper, do the wipe-ety wipe, and when you pull away the soiled one, the clean one is waiting below, right there in the right place. Viola! Now that is a quick change!

Diaper changing really is an art and one that is more easily perfected with the right tools. This is on my must have list for my baby due in March and one product I have been recommending left and right to friends. Ubi-Baby changing tables can be purchased directly from the manufacturer.

Tushies- coming to a Target near you?

Fans of the hard-to-find Tushies brand of chlorine-, gel-, dye-, GMO- and latex-free diapers and wipes will be excited to learn that its parent company, TenderCare, has been acquired by the Hain Celestial group, best known for their Celestial Seasonings teas and Earth's Best organic baby food and formula line.  The acquisition will likely mean greater distribution for the brand.  Hopefully you'll be able to find the brand in more stores, alongside other green brands like Seventh Generation and mass-market ones like Huggies and Pampers.

Their other natural and organic food and personal care products include brands like J/A/S/O/N, Bearitos, Avalon Organics, WestSoy, Health Valley, Soy Dream, Rice Dream, Terra Chips, and Arrowhead Mills.

Here are a few of my favorite (baby) things: Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer- A Heated Debate

The wipes warmer is a HEATED debate (pun intended :-P)! Do they really work? Does the baby even care? Do they dry out the wipes? The questions are numerous. And there isn't an answer to them all, but I know this much ...

Shortly before my daughter was born my friend Michelle had her daughter, when I asked her to tell me what items she loved, she offered a great laundry list of stuff. One of her items was a wipes warmer. Now, by this time I had already done my reading and had added the Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer ($20) to my registry. But it was nice to hear her insight, especially since she is a bit more frugal then me and wasn't buying EVERYTHING under the sun. She commented that while she doesn't know for sure that her daughter liked it, she certainly didn't wriggle and protest being wiped with a wipe from the warmer on a cold day/night!

I agree with her 100%! My daughter would allow a normal room-temp wipe to be used, she didn't cry or protest, but when she was a little peanut just home from the hospital I felt somewhat happy when I pulled the already warm wipes form the holder to clean her with. This made her early "sponge baths" easier too, as a warm wipe did a great job of cleaning her off!

There are MANY on the market. The Prince Lionheart one I mention is the one I decided on after reading the reviews ... it seemed to be the most loved and I can tell you that it works and it works WELL!

Make sure you position your changing table near an outlet, as the wipes warmer needs to be plugged in. Also, keep in mind, that the Ever-Fresh Pillow will require replacing every once in a while. It's also IMPORTANT that you make sure the pillow is wet, I just added water to mine once a week or so and it did fine.

Plush Pad: An Upgrade for the Bottom Half

Update:  AhGoo Baby has informed me that they have changed the manufacturer which produced the pad with seams that frayed when washed.  A replacement is en route.

As the famous potty-training book says, 'Everyone Poops'.  And we've all got the standard changing pads that come with our diaper bags--the slick, plastic-y one; the too-small-for-any-baby's-tush one; the not-very-washable one; the too-thin-to-qualify-as-a-pad one; and how about the one that stains? (from a $150 diaper bag to boot!). Hard to believe no one has made anything much better.  When I'm on the go, I have to put a receiving blanket on top of the pad that comes with my bag to compensate. 

Now someone has responded to our communal groan about crappy changing pads:  Ah Goo Baby has developed The Plush Pad ($47), which raises the ante on portable changing pads.  They have inserted a sheet of tempur-pedic-type memory foam into a waterproof case, and then into a velvety-soft cover with a colorful fabric exterior.  It rolls up very tightly and is secured with two attached elastic loops.  Love the plushness, love the colors, love the compactness.  Here's the proverbial 'poop':  Some of 'it' will naturally land on the pad at times, so I washed my Plush Pad within the first week of use, and, well, it's not quite as quick to clean and replace in your diaper bag as the plastic-y versions.  I laundered both the plush outer cover and the white interior zip case.  There was some effort reassembling all the pieces and working the foam layer back in, and then stretching it all back to fit.  Also, be very careful to wash this on a gentle cycle.  I didn't, and found that some of the seams were worse for the wear.  But for the softness against my baby's bottom, I'm willing to make these trade offs vs. plastic.

The Plush Pad is only 10" long by 3" in diameter when rolled up; when opened, it's 2 feet by 2 feet square.  I found it plenty big for my son as a newborn, and he just barely fits onto it now at 7 months. 

Celebrities who have The Plush Pad include: Jason Priestly, Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Pressley, Naomi Watts, Kristy Swanson, Marcia Cross, Amanda Peet, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Diane Farr. 

Exclusive for CBB Readers:  Use coupon code FSCBB to get free ground shipping on orders over $25 when you purchase The Plush Pad here, through November 30, 2007.

PLAYSKOOL Baby Care by CVS/pharmacy: Because anything that saves us time and money is a good thing!

Update: The winners are Katie, who loves her Mei Tai baby carrier, Kristina S., who wondered if Gerber Graduates Puffs counted, and Chelsea, who loves "a great, comfy pair of maternity jeans... the kind that actually still give you a figure but still manages to show off that beautiful curvy belly."

All moms have one thing in common – we’re busy, and always on the lookout for ways to streamline our daily routines. With over 80% of its customers being women – and most of them, moms – CVS/pharmacy understands that we’re pressed for time. In response, they’ve introduced a new line of PLAYSKOOL Baby Care products, available only at CVS, meaning moms can now stock up on all their baby needs while picking up prescriptions and purchasing other essentials, all in one place.

The line is filled with more than 40 fun, colorful products – from diapers and wipes to sippys, ergonomic bowls, teething toys and grooming sets – designed with the attention to quality and detail that you’d expect from PLAYSKOOL and CVS.

Here are a few product highlights:

As I mentioned over on CBB, my first purchase was the Insulated Flip Top Cup ($4.99), my absolute favorite item in this line. There are so many reasons why I love this cup, from the flip top design that keeps the soft silicone straw clean in between drinks, to the insulation that keeps drinks nice and cool, to the colorful little GLOWORM design. The best part: this cup DOES NOT LEAK – liquid only comes out when your child sips on the straw. I never hesitate to toss it into my diaper bag or purse, because I know the liquid is going to stay inside the cup where it belongs.

CVS has included a ton of great sippy cups in the PLAYSKOOL line. For introducing your child to the world of sippy cups, the Soft Spout Trainer Cup ($4.99) is great because its two side handles are the perfect size for little hands, and the sippy spout is nice and soft, so you don’t need to worry about your child hurting her gums and teeth on a hard plastic spout. They also have three other sippy cups- one without the flip-top and two straw cups with flip-top lids, insulated and non-insulated.  I prefer the insulated ones because it prevents the cup from sweating and getting the other stuff in your bag wet.

As I mentioned on CBB, Anya loves the packaging of the travel version of the Cottony Cloths baby wipes. They’re the only brand of baby wipes that are made with real cotton, and I can’t believe they don’t cost more! The cloths have a thick, cushiony texture and are super soft, strong and stretchy (A little known fact about cotton: it gets stronger when it’s wet!). This means you get to use less wipes, and there’s no risk of icky finger poke-throughs during change time. Another thing I really like about these wipes is that they come in soft-sided packaging. The 16-ct travel pack ($1.99) fits perfectly inside my purse, and the larger 80-ct packs ($3.29) fit really nicely inside diaper bags, unlike those hard plastic containers. You can also buy bigger packages (160-ct and 240-ct, $5.49 and $7.49) to refill your changing table box. They come in both scented and unscented versions, though I prefer to use unscented products whenever possible.

If you love sleek, modern designs (or even if you don’t!), I highly recommend the Easy Grip Bowl ($4.49). The bowl is fun and colorful, and has a comfy, ergonomic thumb hole that allows for an ultra-stable grip during mealtime. A thoughtful touch: it’s designed to work for both righties and lefties. The bowl’s lid has a built-in steam vent so you can transfer easily from fridge to microwave. Another cool feature: the bowl comes with a color-changing heat sensitive feeding spoon that lets you know if the food is too hot. The heat sensitive spoons are available separately too- soft spoons ($3.99 per 3-pk) and metal spoons with soft coating ($3.49 per 2-pk).  Now that Anya is feeding herself, she likes using the bowls to eat her cereal out of (her favorite is EnviroKidz's Gorilla Munch which is essentially an organic Kix).

I wish I had a set of the Ice Gel Teething Keys ($3.99) when Anya was cutting her teeth. This teether is dual surfaced – the top of each teething key is made of soft, textured material with lots of bumps and ridges to help teeth come through, and the bottom of each key is filled with non-toxic Ice Gel. The Gel stays soft even when placed in the freezer (no more chewing on a hard block of ice), stays colder longer than water-filled teethers, and doesn’t evaporate over time.  Anya likes to play with them now because they look like keys.

You wouldn’t think it, but it’s tough to find a good grooming set for little ones. The Infant/Toddler Grooming Set ($6.99) comes in a nice little carrying case and includes a specially designed nail clipper with a curved cutting edge for infant nails, a pair of nail scissors with a rounded safety tip and easy to hold plastic handles, fine grained emery boards for shaping delicate nails, and a little comb to style your baby’s hair. I have to confess, I keep this set in my bag for my own purposes – it doesn’t take up any space, and it’s perfect to have on hand when you chip or snag a nail.

One small touch that I like are their helpful mom tips on each package that are great for new parents such as, "Babies who are often resistant to diaper change may need a few minutes to connect with you before you start. While making eye contact tell the child what you are going to do and slowly move into the business at hand. A few minutes of connecting can save you ten or fifteen minutes of struggling." It's kind of common sense but it's a nice reminder.

This is just a taste of what the CVS/pharmacy-PLAYSKOOL Baby Care line has to offer. You’ll have to visit your local CVS or www.cvs.com/playskool to check out the entire line. Or, you can enter to win one of three fabulous gift baskets we’re giving away this week (pictured left).

To enter to win one of three baskets of CVS/pharmacy-PLAYSKOOL Baby Care products, post a comment with the answer to this question:
What baby product can’t you live without and why?  Also tell us if you win, if you'll keep the basket for your family or give it to a pregnant friend/relative.  (Giveaway closes Thursday, September 6 at 10 am EST.)

Skip Hop Introduces Diaper Bag Details - Essentials for Your Diaper Bag

Skip Hop, known for their stylish and practical diaper bags, and the delicious Skip Hop Pronto Changing Pad, introduces Diaper Bag Details, a collection of accessories for your diaper bag.

Diaper Bag Details contains the following five items; An insulated bottle bag, laminated zip case with detachable strap, pacifier pocket (holds two pacifiers), a clear, see-through wipes case and a diaper holder (holds 4 diapers).

These essentials are all ready to go in a clear tote (great for gifting), and is available in three patterns: Flora (pictured), Black Geo (back with a geometric design) and the Ocean Stripe pattern. Available in August, it will retail for $45.

For more information on Skip Hop, please go to Skiphop.com.

Regal+Lager's Gr8x Line: Great expectations diaper bags & swaddling wraps

Regal+Lager is the exclusive distributor of many popular baby care brands to the U.S. You might have heard of a little brand they import, Phil & Teds of New Zealand?  They have so many cool products to make life as a parent easier. Such as the new Sport Stroller, the single stroller that can be used four different ways and with one or two children. We will be airing a review of that new model very soon. Regal+Lager has several other top brands like Lascal (you've probably seen their awesome buggy boards and kiddy boards), Second Nature (baby bottles with a special nipple resembling a mom's ) and Diaper Dekor (keeps your nursery smelling fresh). Their latest brand is Gr8x (pronounced Great Expectations) from Australia.

Gr8x makes darling and practical diaper bags and swaddling wraps. You've probably heard of the Baby Traveller Deluxe. I am so impressed with this diaper bag! From the Deluxe line, this large all-in-one diaper bag and changing mat is going to make your life easier. No more digging in your diaper bag to scoop out your changing pad, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream. This bag holds it all in one secure, easily reachable place AND it unfolds into an extra long change mat folds open and a pocket on each side of the mat folds out. Change baby anywhere, without placing your baby on a cold floor or dirty changing table (when there actually is one). You can fit several diapers on each side, a travel wipes case, a parent pocket, a removable washable, waterproof changing pad insert, and a wet bag type pocket inside for soiled clothes. On the outside of the Baby Traveller Deluxe, the drawstring bungee cord will let you attach a wrap or a blanket. I have been using it to store Ben's hat and windbreaker. It can go in the washing machine (but not the dryer!). There are many ways to use this bag. 1) You can use the attachable straps to make the Baby Traveller Deluxe a stroller bag. 2) Backpack straps are tucked inside the huge back pocket -they can be attached to the clips on the back botton to make it a backpack. 3) There is also an attachable shoulder strap to make it a shoulder bag. 4) There is a briefcase handle, great for carrying it into a restroom. Such a versatile bag, I loved it.

I tested out in my downtown area the other day. I Ioved the way it clipped to my stroller. The huge back pocket fit my must have item