droolicious : feeding

Forget Bowls, Try Feeding Pots

Cathy Hale — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:30:00 GMT

Get a load of these coloful travel pots. Perfect for hot or cold food, these pots are insulated and they fit most standard vehicle cup holders. You can pick your favorite color and each set of two lidded pots comes with a handy spoon. $6.95 at One Step Ahead.

Introducing the Astro High Chair

elizabeth leach — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The new Astro High Chair from Valco is genius in its simplicity. With a unique folding system, the Astro High Chair folds up easily and completely flat, so it's perfect for small spaces. The shape is modern and sophisticated and the price tag is a brilliant $150.

With a deep, comfortable leatherette seat (that really looks like leather) and an adjustable, removable tray, the Astro High Chair has everything you need. I, personally, have wanted an all white high chair that didn't cost a ton, so this chair is perfect! Available in graphite, ivory, chocolate and aqua.

Visit Valco here. Purchase the Astro High Chair here for $149.99 and free shipping.

Bibs to Go: Spit Up or Sanity Saver?

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The nice thing about Bibs to Go (besides the SAMi design, we mean) is that you can conveniently toss this pad of 20 tear-off, spill-resistant paper bibs in the diaper bag for use whenever you need it. The bad thing, of course, is that whole "to-go" concept. For the same price (or less), you could have a single, washable bib for just the same purpose. Your call, greenie.

$11.95 from Spoon Sisters.

New Munchkin Mighty Grip Glass Bottles Available at Target

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:30:00 GMT

If you've struggled to find affordable glass bottles in your area, fret no more: Munchkin's new Mighty Grip Glass Bottles are now hitting shelves at Target. Available in 4 oz. (right, above) and 8 oz. (left) sizes in various colors, each leak-resistant Mighty Grip features molded ribs for easy gripping and both ounce and milliliter markings for measurement.

The bottles, which are listed at $3.99 each, are only available in-store at Target, but if you're looking for a set or just prefer to shop online, Amazon also carries Mighty Grip three-packs for $12.99 each.

Eat to the Finish Line and Win a Cupcake!

elizabeth leach — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

This bright and fun baby plate from French Bull is designed like a game. Follow the numbers, eat from every compartment and you get to the finish line! Along the way, meet a teddy bear, strawberry and a cupcake.

My little girl was fascinated by this plate. I told her to eat her mashed potatoes so she could find out what was underneath. There's nothing like a good distraction to get her to eat her dinner and not toss it on the floor! Plate comes with a cover and matching spoon. Even the spoon has it's own compartment with a little picture of the French Bull logo. This is the cutest baby plate in the entire universe! Made from BPA free melamine. Dishwasher safe and shatter proof.

French Bull is designed by artist Jackie Shapiro. Check out their fabulous products for adults, too.

Shop French Bull's Game Baby Compartment Tray here for $24.

BabyHuman Helps Your Human Baby at Feeding Time

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT

If you've ever handed over a spoon or fork to an infant who's just learning to self-feed, you know that kids consider every eating implement a toy. Still, BabyHuman gets points for its Learn and Play Baby Spoon, which has been designed with little ones' natural impulses in mind.

The Learn and Play's easy-grip handle and ambidextrous-friendly design makes it virtually impossible for kids to miss their mouths, but in the event they go too far (and they always do), the spoon also features a raised lip that prevents kiddoes from going too far past their own. (Insert horrible "Gag me with a spoon" joke here.)

$8.99 from Amazon, and yep, they're BPA-, lead- and phthalate-free.

Valentine's Day Giveaway: Boon Snack Balls!

Cathy Hale — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

How can you resist a cheery orb of snacky fun? That's right Babble readers, you have a second chance to win a Boon Snack Ball! In honor of V-Day, I have three pink & white Snack Balls to giveaway to three lucky folks! Learn more about Boon Snack Balls here.

To enter giveaway, email your full name and mailing address to babblecontest@gmail.com. Winners will be randomly chosen on February 21st. Good luck!

What a Sleek Boob...I Mean, Bottle

Cathy Hale — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

It's probably pretty obvious why these bottles are preferred by baby. The bright colors, of course. Oh, and the boob shape.

This is the Adiri Natural Nurser, a safe BPA-free plastic bottle. Thanks to input from breast experts like moms, doctors and lactation consultants, this bottle is as close as you can get to the real thing. It's even soft, made of breast-like materials. It features a special twist and feed system that prevents lost parts and assembly hassles. Learn more about Adiri and the Natural Nurser here.

Retrolicious: Remember the Little Tikes Turtle?

Heather Kuldell — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:02:00 GMT

When I was a kid, I swear that every kid on the block had the Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox (which, btw, they still make). The domed lid coupled with the blank turtle-y stare holds a special place in my heart, which is why I swooned when I came across ZAK! Designs Little Tikes Turtle Bowl. The rugged bowl looks just like the sandbox, but I suspect cats won’t poo in it if you forget to put on the lid. The bowl features a tip-resistant base and is designed for infants transitioning to solid food.

Available at the The Soft Landing for $6.50.

Snack Ball-A-Day Giveaway!

Cathy Hale — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:00:00 GMT

As parents, we tend to see lots of cool baby stuff on a regular basis. Knitted cup cakes, Bamboo diaper covers, hats with animal ears and the list goes on. Last year, I met the Boon Snack Ball and fell totally head over heels for it. Why? I'm not quite sure. And maybe it's lust, not love. Either way, I'm still smitten with these clever little snack orbs. I'm always eager to share them with other families too. In fact, we gave them out as party favors at my son's birthday party.

Thanks to the lovely folks at Boon, YOU can win one too! For the next five days, we'll be giving away a Snack Ball-A-Day. To enter, send your full name and email address to us at babblecontest@gmail.com. Please put "Snack Ball" in the subject line. On Sunday, January 18th, we'll choose five winners at random from all of the entries. Good luck!

New Babycook Accessories

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:28:00 GMT

You first saw the Beaba Babycook here back in April. This is the gadget that allows you to steam, puree, as well as reheat homemade baby food. Now there are some new accessories to help store and serve that wholesome goodness.

An alternative to the ice cube tray method, Beaba has released a Tubberware of sorts to corral and freeze your homemade baby food. The BPA-free silicone container, $19.95, is designed with 2-oz. cups for freezing seven servings. At dinnertime, the individual frozen portions slip out, ready for reheating in the Beaba Babycook or a microwave oven. In addition, Beaba also has a great set of French-designed spoons, $19.95 for a set of four, that you can pick up at Williams-Sonoma.

On Sale: Stainless Steel Sippy Cups

Cathy Hale — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Over the years I’ve purchased a zillion sippy cups. In the beginning they all work fine. Then one magical day - poof! - they leak constantly. It’s like they simply self-destruct. Sound familiar? End your malfunctioning goblet distress with stainless steel sippy cups. Brands like Foogo, Klean Kanteen and The Safe Sippy make some seriously safe and durable products. They're BPA free, Phthalate free, easy to wash, sleek and cheery. Buy 3 sippy cups and get $3 off each cup at Euphoria Baby. You can mix and match, so try them all!

Dabbawalla Lunchbags

elizabeth leach — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:31:00 GMT

Chris Ford introduced us to Dabbawalla Lunch Bags when he saw them at the 2008 ABC Kids Expo. These Scandinavian inspired lunch bags are now available and I can't decide which one I'm buying. With bold, bright, graphic designs, these lunch bags are stylish and functional.

One large compartment holds food and snacks and a smaller one holds an ice pack for longer trips. Choose a ladybug (above), elephant, dog, stop light, apple, penguin, dog, or cow for $37.99 each. At Oompa.

Wild About Bibs

Cathy Hale — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:30:00 GMT

This gorgeous hand-made baby bib might make you drool. (I personally go ga-ga for all things animal print!) Featuring "Minky" ultra-soft fabric on both sides, these adorable bibs come in a variety of wonderful patterns and color combinations. Zebra, giraffe and argyle, just to name a few. $16

Royal Beginning is also known for its unique baby changing handbag. From across the room, it just looks like a trendy purse. In reality, it's a versatile changing station for babies and moms on the move. Check it out!

Go Ahead, Kid, Rake Your Food In

Erin Behan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:52:00 GMT

Leave it to the Danish to design children's cutlery whose odd shape defies traditional expectations, and models form on function. Designed by silvermaker Kay Bojesen (who also created time-tested kids wooden toys), this cutlery set has flat handles, which are easier to grasp for small hands. The foodpusher is less fork, more rake without tongs. To get your baby's hands on the heirloom quality pieces, you'll have to shell out $45 at Babygeared.

Drooly Bib Has a Dry Sense of Humor

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:04:00 GMT

As novelty bibs go, the Drooly Bib has a practical side to match its silly looks: The soft, 100% cotton top layer is offset by a waterproof inner layer to help keep slobber and spills from dampening baby's clothes.

$9.99 from Perpetual Kid.

Tavo High Chair From Monte Design Is Small And Modern

Chris Ford — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:04:00 GMT

The Tavo High Chair from Monte Design is a product I missed at the ABC Kids Expo this year, and it's definitely a regret. The Tavo is a basic under-the-table high chair that looks great and doesn't look like it will take up a lot of space in your home.

The Tavo High chair seat is made of black or brown "bonded leather" which is (as I learned) a type of recycled leather. It also makes it a soft-seat (which is kind of unique) and easy to wipe down. The base is solid maple (an appropriate wood type for a product made in Canada) and is for kids who can sit unassisted - six months to four years.

The Tavo High Chair, available now for $345 from MonteDesign.com

Cooking for Baby: The Cookbook

Erin Behan — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:57:00 GMT

So you've got your babycook in hand but have no idea what to cook? Once you get beyond basic purees and cereals (although the book has info on that, too), you might want to move onto stews, risottos, muffins and waffles, all detailed in Cooking for Baby ($19.95), a Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Bibs with Baby 'Tude: Crocodile Creek

Erin Behan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:06:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of Crocodile Creek's products. My new favorite find is their bibs, festooned with adorable animal drawings and sayings that toe the line between design-y but kid-cute. They are 100 percent cotton and coated with thermo polyurethane to allow to easy wipeoff---and free of PVC, vinyl and phthalate. They also have a handy pouch to hold wayward broccoli and drippy yogurt. Besides the adorable "It's time to eat" hippo ($7.50), above, Amazon has a whole host of designs.

Easy Feeding with Babycook

Erin Behan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:29:00 GMT

I've just started to jump into the solid foods arena, and while it's easier than I thought (save the constipation issues), I can definitely see the value in a compact, all-in-one device to help you make your own baby food. The very popular in France, BPA-free Beaba Babycook ($150) steams, purees and even reheats or defrosts if you make in bulk and freeze. The bowl and basket are dishwasher safe and it also comes with a spatula and recipe booklet. It's new to the U.S. and yet there's 30+ glowing reviews at Williams-Sonoma.

Peekaboo Placemats

Erin Behan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:45:00 GMT

I'm of the less is more school of thought when it comes to buying children's items, which allows me to justify little splurges, like these adorable see-through placemats from Modern-twist ($17 at Lavish). I'm especially fond of Kat in the City, but the owl and monster aren't too shabby, either. The Modern-twist line is headed by Kat Nouri in San Francisco and she, alongside her designers, turns out some beautiful pieces that never forget to be fun.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Dabba Walla Lunch Bags And Backpacks

Chris Ford — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:58:00 GMT

In India, the "dabbawalla" (Wikipedia entry) is the guy who collects the hot lunches of office workers from their home, brings them to the office, and then returns the empty boxes back. In America, Dabba Walla is a company that makes really cool neoprene lunch bags and backpacks.

What I liked best about Dabba Walla are the designs. Big and colorful, they're a lot cooler than the typical mass produced cartoon character stuff you'll get at a normal department store. And they had a stop light design, which I totally loved.

Dabba Walla bags, $38 for the luch bag and $48 for the backpack. Available at the end of October 2008. Check them out at DabbaWallaBags.com.

A 7 Days of Feeding Adendum: NYTimes Advice

Erin Behan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:31:00 GMT

If you've been reading our 7 Days of Feeding series with interest, then you should check out The New York Times' article, 6 Feeding Mistakes Parents Make. Among the suggestions is don't put the cookies in the cookie jar, the idea being that kids always want what is put just out of reach. Wondering if readers have any of their own tried-and-true ways of getting kids to eat what they should and not eat (or at least not gorge) on what they don't. Please leave in the comments section. Devin gets his first taste of cereal on Saturday, so I'm all ears.

Photo: New York Times

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Sippy Express Water And Juice Bottle Topper

Chris Ford — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:29:00 GMT

Another small, unknown product I saw that I thought was pretty cool was the Sippy Express. It's a bottle topper that turns almost any water bottle or juice bottle (even the wide mouth bottles) into a sippy cup.

The Sippy Express goes on over the top of an open bottle with a twist, and even though it doesn't use the threads of the bottle top itself, it still would be hard for a child to remove. The representative demoing it for me turned the bottle upside down, and while a couple drips fell from the bottle, it held the liquid in really well. There also isn't any valve that removes (like all my sippy cups). It's BpA free and dishwasher safe and fits 99% of all widely available water bottles and juice bottles.

It's a brand new product, but should retail for around $2.99. Check it out at SippyExpress.com.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Snacker Catcher

Chris Ford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:28:00 GMT

It was fun to check out all the new products from the brands that we all know, but it was also fun to find new products from people who had a good idea and are trying to make it happen. The Snacker Catcher, a "big snack" tether, is one of those products.

It basically looks like a pacifier tether - you clip one end to your child's clothes and you cinch the other to a large piece of food (like half a bagel or a cookie or something. Then when your child inevitably drops it, it won't fall on the ground.

Each Snacker Catcher is BPA free and has gone through the lengthy FDA approval process (which isn't something I've seen before in a product like this). There are four ribbon styles available and each should retail for around $9.99. Check them out at Bebalee.com.