droolicious : gear

Jeep's Tandem Stroller: A Lot of Stroller for a Little Price Tag

elizabeth leach — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Jeep’s new Traveler Tandem Stroller is a fantastic deal. Weighing 38 pounds, this full service stroller folds up as easily as an umbrella stroller, stands on it's own and fits in the trunk of compact cars. With plenty of bells and whistles, the Jeep Traveler Tandem is a great deal at only $179.99.

The back seat accommodates many popular brands of car seats and the front seat is perfect for your toddler because it comes with a cute snack tray, cup holder and toy steering wheel. The canopies and independent reclining seats means one baby can sleep and the other can play!

Purchase the Jeep Traveler Tandem Stroller.

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.

New from One Step Ahead: Play Mats and Play Time

elizabeth leach — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:53:00 GMT

Tummy Time Safari is the cutest tummy time mat I've seen. It's also bigger than most tummy time mats and cushioned so it's comfortable for those sensitive tummies. Baby can practice tummy time while surrounded in a land of brightly colored, safari friends. An activity panel attaches onto one side of the mat where there is a lion hiding behind peek-a-boo, crinkly bushes, a mirror framed in palm trees, a plush parrot, an elephant, and a crinkly butterfly. (One more play mat and a sensory toy after the jump...)

I can almost hear the safari sounds now! Purchase the Tummy Time Safari for $49.95.

The 3-in-1 Stepping Stone Play Mat (below photo) comes in six triangular pieces that can be configured in many ways. As a hexagon, it's tummy time and play mat for an infant. Toys are in easy reach to amaze and entertain. Fit the pieces as a curved lane and baby can crawl from piece to piece to examine the toys. And then the toys can be fitted together as two pyramids while baby sits or stands and plays. This toy literally grows with your child! Attached toys include, plush and crinkly octopus, house with peek-a-boo door with mirror, rotating and squeaking plush sun, plush rattle fish, peek-a-boo sailboat, mirrored flower, and crinkly leaf. Each triangular piece is a different bright color and is made of soft and washable fabric. Purchase the 3-in-1 Stepping Stone Mat for $49.95

What's Inside Toy Box (below photo) is ingeniously designed because instead of a lid there is fabric on the top so baby can't see inside. He has to put his hand inside the box and feel around to grab something. And what's inside? Eight adorable sensory toys, decorated with satin accents. Your child will delight in pulling these toys out of the box: an octopus, house, rocket, monkey, polka dot animal, sun with mirror, sailboat, and lion. Cute images and satin tags decorate the outside of the box. Purchase What's Inside Toy Box for $34.95.

7 Days of Potty Training: The iMac of Potty Chairs

elizabeth leach — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

The Baby Bjorn Potty Chair is kind of pretty. Okay, the way a potty chair looks may not be the most important aspect, but the Baby Bjorn chair has a lot going for it.

First and foremost is the ergonomic design so your child will be comfy. Second, and really just as important, is the inner potty which is easy to remove for cleaning. Third, there’s a splashguard (maybe that should be number one) and a rubber edge at the bottom of the chair to keep it in place. Made of PVC-free plastic (not that anyone should be chewing on it) and comes in four colors: blue, red, pink, and white.

Buy it at Giggle for $25.

7 Days of Potty Training: On the Go Gear

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:09:00 GMT

If there’s any phrase to live by when potty training, it’s “Time is of the Essence.” Whether you’re on a desolate stretch of highway or only a couple of minutes away from a bathroom, toddlers can’t hold it. It’s not their fault. They just haven’t learned the skill. So get used to the idea of going everywhere with a potty in your car. Here’s a great one that comes with a sleek travel bag.

Fisher Price’s Potty on the Go has sturdy fold out legs and utilizes a disposable bag and absorbency pad system to ensure sanitary waste removal. The tote bag also includes pockets for storing wipes, hand sanitizer and other potty essentials.

$79.99 on Amazon.

7 Days of Feeding: This Could be the Best High Chair Ever

elizabeth leach — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

I think I should get a trophy for finding this high chair or maybe I'm the last to know, in which case a big DUH for me. In any case, I feel slightly giddy about the Euro II Highchair, which looks like a less expensive version of Stokke's Trip Trap, minus all the funky colors.

My main gripe with my high chair is all the grooves that food gets stuck in and I have to practically hose the thing down after every meal. The Euro II Highchair is so simple that it avoids the grooves. Your child can sit at the table with you or you can purchase the attachable tray for the more conventional high chair approach. This chair is sturdy enough for an adult to use, not that I can see why that would be important. The price is $99.95 and the tray is $29.95. Buy it at One Step Ahead and choose from cherry or natural wood.

I admit, I haven't tested the Euro II, but there are comments on One Step Ahead from people who have. There seems to be a few issues with strapping in an infant who is on the large size, which would have been mine, so that leaves me a little deflated. I would like to think that this is still a near perfect high chair. If not, One Step Ahead offers easy returns.

Fisher-Price has Come a Long Way, Baby!

elizabeth leach — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Babble has reviewed the Fisher-Price Zen Collection in the past, but I had the opportunity to see the Zen Collection Infant Seat in action and I have to sing it's praises! This is a beautiful infant seat with all the bells and whistles we expect from Fisher-Price. It plays ten songs (so Mommy doesn't go loony singing the same one over and over) and the seat is extra deep so baby is cradled in zen-like comfort. Now, let's talk about the way it looks.

In soothing shades of green and brown, a contemporary leaf motif, wood accents, and soft materials, this infant seat is extremely attractive. The Zen Collection Infant Seat would flatter any room's décor. The seat has handles so it’s easy to move and it comes with a plush head support for smaller babies. Fisher-Price has come a long way, baby! Buy it on Amazon for $79.99. Check out the entire Zen Collection at Fisher-Price.

New Tripp Trapp Colors from Stokke

elizabeth leach — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:07:00 GMT

Introducing Tripp Trapp's new Trend Collection from Stokke. The Trend Collection comes in gray, yellow, pink, and green. (The classic collection comes in white, natural, cherry, walnut, black, red, and turquoise.) We've written about the highchair that grows with your child before. The Tripp Trapp chair gives the perfect support at every stage of a child's development starting at around six months until they can sit in the same chair as Mom and Dad.

What I like most about the chair is it’s easy to clean. Without all those little grooves everywhere you can easily wipe it down after the slop-fest. Some feel it's better to use the Tripp Trapp after they've outgrown the high chair or booster and I probably agree. (See Droolicious archive of that post here.) Without a doubt, the Tripp Trapp is a great looking chair and now there are even more colors to choose from. There are also eight new cushions available for the Tripp Trapp: denim blue, linen natural, tales green, tales pink, art stripes, beige stripes, dots brown, and dots black. Shop the Tripp Trapp's new collection at All Modern Baby for $299.99 and free shipping. Visit the Stokke website here.

Droolworthy: Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bags

elizabeth leach — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Petunia Pickle Bottom, besides having a fantastic name, makes scrumptious diaper bags and coordinating baby slings. (We've reviewed their Serenity Slings in the past so I'll focus on the diaper bags.) Known for using exotic brocade patterns, Petunia’s bags are sophisticated and beautiful enough to be worn as handbags, long after the need to carry diapers.

Petunia now offers a new collection of glazed canvas (PVC free) bags that have the look of brocade but can be easily wiped clean. These bags are as glamorous as her original bags but can be worn every day without any worries.

The names of the fabrics are as delicious as the bags themselves: Nightfall in Madrid, Idealistic Istanbul, Moroccan Roll, to name a few. Choose from many sizes depending on how much or how little you need to carry.

The above photo is the Boxy Backpack in Tigris Roll brocade. These bags have 3 bottle pockets, a detachable dirty diaper pouch, a changing pad station that folds out (very clever!), and can be used as a backpack or with shoulder straps. (approximately $158)

The above photo is the Cross Town Clutch in Afternoon in Katmandu, glazed canvas. This compact bag has enough room for all the essentials and easily hooks on to the back of your stroller. It comes with a diaper changing pad and wipes case. (approximately $68)

The above photo is the Touring Totes in Parisian Pansy, glazed canvas. These bags are a little bigger than the Cross Town Clutch and attach to your stroller with clips. There's a pocket for your cell phone, bottle, wallet, iPod, and it comes with changing pad and wipes case. (approximately $145)

Check out Petunia Pickle Bottom's other diaper bags: the Scout which is designed by and for men and the Cake Collection, in super lush cut velvet.

Star Baby: How Does Jamie Lynn Spear's Baby Roll?

SunnyChanel — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

One thing makes me really mad about the above photo of Jamie Lynn Spears, the ex-Disney starlet, sibling of the one and only Britney and teen mom. It’s not that she parked in the Fire Lane, not that she looks so good in her short shorts less than two months after having her daughter Maddie, but that she had her kid in time to get the cherry blossom patterned Graco MetroLite Travel System ($239.99 from Babiesrus.com).

First off I should mention that I’m totally backing the MetroLite Travel System. It’s convenient, practical and affordable. The one I had was the basic black and gray version, but this one with the stylish, simple and perfectly pink in a non- “look it’s a girl!” way would have been my go-to style had it been available. No, it’s not time to have another girl, I’ll just have to live vicariously thru Mommy Spears.

(via Just Jared)

New from Britax: Boulevard CS

elizabeth leach — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:30:00 GMT

So, what's new about this Boulevard car seat besides the snazzy new fabric? This is the first car seat with a "Click & Safe Harness Adjuster" which makes a clicking sound when the harness is properly fastened. I guess this sounds important. I have the original Boulevard and I always have to double check to see if it's fastened. (Of course, this only takes a second but that new feature would be nice.)

The Boulevard CS also has the "True Side Impact Protection" that the original Boulevard debuted. This feature is important since side impact crashes result in the most serious injuries to babies. The Boulevard CS has all the other features of the Boulevard such as the easy adjust headrest and harness, rear and forward facing recline, five-point harness, among others. Also, like the Boulevard, the Boulevard CS is for children who weigh 5 - 65 pounds. The Boulevard CS will available in October.

Is This Really Fisher-Price?

elizabeth leach — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:36:00 GMT

My Little Lamb Swing is a new addition to Fisher-Price's Baby Gear Collection (not the Zen Collection as I previously wrote). This swing has all the bells and whistles that you expect from Fisher-Price but with a more updated, contemporary look. So, instead of sticking out like a sore thumb, your swing can blend in with your contemporary furniture. (Detailed photo after the jump.)

The My Little Lamb Swing is mostly white with chocolate and light blue detailing and a light blue, pale green, yellow lamb mobile. It swings side-to-side like the Papasan Swing as well as the traditional back and forth motion. This is a very similar swing to the Papasan but with the Zen Collection's more modern look. And as an added twist... stick your baby in the swing and she becomes your little lamb.... the swing has lamb ears positioned right where your baby's head lies. Available in stores soon.

How the Wheelie Car Seat Bag Solved My Travel Panic

elizabeth leach — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:00:00 GMT

It seems crazy to spend a lot of money on a car seat and then check it at the airport knowing all the abuse it will take. I've had my car seat and stroller returned to me wet and scratched up and probably full of germs. Now I have a brand new Britax and I plan on using it for many years to come. And what about carrying this new gigantic car seat all the way to the gate? It doesn't fit on my stroller anymore. I'm experiencing travel panic.

After stressing and surfing the internet for a solution I came across Tots On the Go and the genius JL Childress Wheelie Car Seat Travel Bag. The bag is padded so the car seat is protected. The bag has high quality rubber wheels so you can roll it to the gate. There's also an adjustable shoulder strap. The price $39.99 and enter code: BABBLE for free shipping. Check out Tots on the Go for a lot more useful travel gear like bags for stollers and play yards, too.

Now, I can look forward to my vacation with one less thing to worry about!

7 Days of Beach Bests: UPF 50 Beach Tent

elizabeth leach — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

A pop-up tent for the beach is a great idea for babies under six months who can’t use sun block. It’s also smart for older babies who want to eat sand and shells. I like to use mine because even with sun block, a sun hat, and a protective bathing suit, a day at the beach is too much sun.

So, stick them in their very own cabana while you bake yourself! This tent has UPF 50+ protection and blocks 98% of UV rays. The sides are mesh and the roof is ventilated so baby can feel the sea breeze. There are even roll down shades for privacy during napping or nursing. It folds up and down in seconds and comes with its own carry bag. The Sun Smarties Infant Beach Cabana Tent also comes with a polyester floor pad with rainforest design. Buy it for $39.95.

Big Deal: 15% off all Graco

elizabeth leach — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Babycenterstore is taking 15% off all Graco for two weeks and if you spend $59 the shipping is free. This includes strollers, high chairs, monitors, activity centers, car seats, pack and plays, etc. If you're in the market for something made by Graco, now's the time.

After the jump is a great looking pack and play in "sorbet". I wish I would have known about it before I bought mine...

The Tot Block in sorbet (above) would work so well with my Skip Hop play mat. (sigh). (I have the Tot Block in primary colors which I highly recommend.)

Shop all Graco at Babycenterstore here.

7 Days of Beach Bests: Dive Mask Goes Digital

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:58:00 GMT

I have a love/hate relationship with my digital camera. Love it because I can capture every Kodak moment. Hate it because, well, I have to download, save, organize, print and store roughly 3,000 Kodak moments a year. But in the end I guess archiving family memories is worth it. And just when I thought I was caught up on the latest digital developments, here’s a new one that’s just in time for lazy days at the beach.

If you’ve experimented with underwater digital photography before, you’ll appreciate Liquid Image’s goggle-camera combo, $99.95. The mask may be a bit dorky looking, but the concept is cool and frees up both hands so you can actually swim and shoot underwater pictures and video. It works in depths up to 15 feet and has a built-in memory of 16MB.

7 Days of Must-Haves: Bouncy Seats for Fussy Babies

elizabeth leach — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

My baby was colicky (or really fussy) and like all the books say… nothing really helps and eventually it goes away. The colic ended and now I have a happy baby. And besides sushi and wine (which did help a lot) the only other thing that got me through was our bouncy seat. I won't recommend my bouncer because it was really awful to look at. The toy bar doesn’t even matter until they’re a few months old so I wouldn’t focus on that. It’s really all about the bounce. Some bouncers also play music so that's another feature you may want to consider, but I'm not sure the music did anything for my baby and it does eventually drive you a little nuts. So, my advice to first-time parents is to buy a bouncer that you like since you’ll be staring at it all day. Here are a few options that aren’t eye-sores.

(above) Kate Spade’s Biarritz Rocker made by Maclaren ($120) is named after the French beach town, Biarritz, and is inspired by French striped t-shirts. The bouncer rocks, vibrates or sits stationery. A removable head hugger in included. The seat folds easily for traveling or storing.

Boppy's Cradle In Comfort Bouncer ($52.99 ) offers an “infant support system” to surround your infant in plush comfort. New-age melodies and nature sounds are helpful for soothing infant to sleep.

A lot of parents swear by the Fisher-Price Papasan Infant Seat ($49.99) because of the “infant insert” that supports the newborn on each side to create a womb-like space. Bouncer also plays ten classical songs.

The Maclaren-Rocker ($85.00) folds flat, converts from a rocker to a stationary chair, has adjustable recline and a removable head hugger.

I Heart Tori Spelling's Stroller

elizabeth leach — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:31:00 GMT

I’m not obsessed with Tori Spelling. This is my second post about her but that doesn’t mean I’m obsessed. I just think she has some cool stuff and since it's my job to tell you about cool stuff here goes...

We've written about Baby Jogger's City Mini stroller in the past, but since Tori was recently spotted pushing it (Thank you Baby Chic 101), I thought it couldn't hurt to show it again. As a mom, who’s baby has outgrown her travel system, I wish I had a lightweight stroller that was safe and had a smooth ride. The City Mini is meant for “urban terrain”. It's not actually a jogging stroller. Here’s all the rest of the info you’re wondering about: patented "Quick-Fold Technology", weather canopy, seat reclines almost flat, under seat storage basket, front wheel suspension, and suitable for birth to 50 pounds. The Citi Mini is available in five colors and is available as a double stroller. And Tori has one and she has a lot of cool stuff.

My Play-Pen Success Story

elizabeth leach — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:04:00 GMT

I finally broke down and bought a pack-n-play. My eleven month-old is crawling like crazy and we’re in the middle of renovations…. I won’t bore you with the details…. Basically, I need a place to put her where she won’t get into trouble but I didn’t want a pack-n-play in the middle of the living room. So, here it is... It's not bad looking and, more importantly, she loves it!

Graco's Pack 'n Play Portable Playard in Bugs Quilt is roomier than most pack-n-plays. It's more of a play-pen than a portable crib but can be used for both purposes. And it looks a lot better than those pastel, safari-themed ones. There's a bug on and each side and each does something different: one has a mirror, one squeaks, one rattles, and one crinkles. She plays happily and I can get things done in the same room. I should have bought it months ago!

7 Days of Car Seats: What Does a Racing Car and a Child's Car-Seat Have in Common?

elizabeth leach — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT

It seems only natural that Recaro would produce high-quality child and infant safety-seats with their history. Recaro is famous for producing the most technologically advanced seats for racing cars. But most impressively, and most important to you and me, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Recaro Signo convertible car seat the highest overall rating for safety, installation features, and instructions.

The Recaro Signo's features: front or rear-facing, up to 8 years, 5 - 70 lbs, 29” seat height, 5-point harness, side-impact protection, washable cover, infinite headrest positions. If you buy it from Target, the shipping is free and the price is $289.99.

What’s that Crud on Your Stroller?

elizabeth leach — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:00:00 GMT

The Amelie stroller liner, from Hedvig Bourbon, is a great way to keep your stroller clean. If your stroller is already beyond cleaning, this stylish liner can cover it up. It also allows you a little change if you’re tired of your old stroller or if you’d like something colorful for spring.

Made from 100% cotton terry velour, the Amelie liner is soft and comfortable for your little passenger. But the best part is that you can take off the liner and give it a good wash, which is very handy after a lunch of sweet potatoes. The cost is a steep $110 but a lot less money than buying a new stroller. Matching diaper bags and changing pads also available at Hedvig Bourbon.

Booster Seats in Yummy Flavors like Mandarin, Apple and Raspberry

elizabeth leach — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:07:00 GMT

Grow Up! booster seats are the imac of booster seats (and yes I know imacs no longer come in these colors). Three “Life-Saver” colors – apple, raspberry, and mandarin - so cool and space-aged you won’t want to hide them when guests come over. (In fact, your friends without kids might even feel envious when they see them.) For $49 they are a lot less expensive than the stylish high-chairs on the market and if you’re space challenged they take up a lot less room. These booster seats are a far cry from the bland generic ones found in most stores. Purchase Grow Up! booster seats at www.moderntots.com. Suitable for kids up to four years old. Kids like them, too, by the way.

Big Deal: Silver Cross Strollers at Overstock

Mir — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:01:00 GMT

If you have Silver Cross taste without a budget to match, scoot on over to Overstock.com -- they've got five different Silver Cross strollers right now, all over half off. The S4 stroller, pictured on the left, above, is just $269.99, and the Classic Sleepover Apollo stroller, pictured on the right, above, is $298.99.

Undiaperbag: Room Seven Mik is Robotlicious

Mir — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:01:00 GMT

In a world of diaper bags that look like couture purses and/or briefcases, I'm smitten with Room Seven's Mik bag ($169 at My Sweet Muffin), which unapologetically brings corduroy and gingham back to the party, along with a heaping helping of robot. There are zippers and pockets galore, including a handy little compartment in the robot's head.

(Something about this design feel familiar? Room Seven creator Brecht Olsthoom is the daughter of the creator of Oilily.)

Droolworthy: No More Slimed Backs with the BurpCatcher

Mir — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:01:00 GMT

There's a certain irony in declaring a burp cloth to be droolworthy, I know. Nevertheless, having lived through an infanthood with a child nicknamed The Geyser leaves me with a soft spot for a burp cloth that might actually save your clothes -- and I think I've found it in the BurpCatcher. It's so simple you'll be doing the I-coulda-had-a-V8 forehead smack, too: It's a burp cloth with a self-opening pocket to catch spew. Yes.

Buy yours online; choose from the basic flannels (trimmed in pink, blue or green) for $12 for a pair, or go for one of the fancy design ones at $16 apiece. Either way, say goodbye to soggy backs!