droolicious : safety

Gotta Have It: CushyStraps

Cathy Hale — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:00:00 GMT

As a new parent, I remember HATING it when car seat straps or stroller straps would dig into my baby's neck. Back in the day, the strap covers were rather dull and ugly. Now they are really cute and very comfortable.

Take a look at CushyStraps from Kiddopotamus. These soft plush strap covers are easy to move from car seat to stroller or jogger. They come in three cute styles, neutral (bear), pink (bunny) and blue (cat). A set retails for $4 at BabyEarth. Makes a great baby shower gift add-on!

Non-Human Bath Tub Assistant

Cathy Hale — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Is your tub usually full of bath toys, bubbles, splashing, giggles and laughter? Yes, bath time is fun! But what about the downside like sore knees and an aching back from being awkwardly bent over the tub? Well, thanks to the innovative folks at So So Fresh you can scrub your kiddos a lot easier.

Introducing the Bath Tub Assistant, a self-standing support unit to hep ease the aches. You can also use it to wash pets and oversized items that won't fit in the washer. It also folds away, so storage is a snap! Retails for $42 at BabyEarth.

Milkscreen Giveaway: Got Mama's Milk?

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

If you're breastfeeding, you already know all of the wonderful benefits it provides for both you and your baby. But what if mommy wants to indulge in a drinky-poo? In the past, we've had to "pump & dump" to be sure we weren't passing any alcohol along to baby. Thanks to the innovative folks at UpSpring Baby, you never have to pump your precious milk and dump it again!

Milkscreen is a simple little test that detects alcohol in breast milk. It's incredibly easy to use and totally reliable. Want to try it for free? Simply email your name and mailing address to babblecontest@gmail.com and one winner will receive a a box of three test strips. The last day to enter is Wednesday, April 22, 2009. For more information about milkscreen, visit milkscreen moms online.

Want to win another cool UpSpring product? MommyQ is giving away Walking Wings. Click here to enter!

On Sale: Perfect Paci for Boys

Cathy Hale — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:00:00 GMT

While some parents have surrendered to the "bling" pacifier trend for boys, I have not. I tried once, but a purple blingy basketball just didn't sit well with me for my little guy. Enter Elodie. Problem solved! Droolicious loves these trendy pacifiers from Sweden and why not? They have cool and masculine themes for boys. Featuring silicone suction, The Guardian Pacifier is totally appropriate for your manly lil' rebel. Makes a great baby shower gift add-on too. On sale at Mason & Matisse for $5.40.

Popular Pack-N-Play Under $100

Cathy Hale — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 GMT

When it comes to baby gear necessities, most parents appreciate the convenience and safety of a pack-n-play. The Graco Bugs Quilt portable playard is one of Target's bestselling baby items. You can easily set it up, store it and transport it. It's also simple to clean with just a bit of soap and water. Dimensions 38 L x 38 W x 30.5 H. Retails for $90 at Target.

Duckbill Doorstop: Looks Great, Saves Fingers

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Let's face it: When you're kid-proofing the house, aesthetics usually come second to keeping little fingers intact. After seeing this duckbill door stopper, however, we're not so sure all childproofing has to be ugly.

€7.90 (around $11 U.S.) at design3000. [Babygadget]

Prevent Runaway Shopping Carts

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:47:00 GMT

This just happened to me recently. I was out shopping on a windy day. After unpacking my groceries the shopping cart took off across the parking lot. Thankfully my son was not in it! Here’s a handy little gadget for added protection against runaway carts.

Small enough to fit in your purse or diaper bag, the Cart-Stopper, $9.99, attaches to your shopping cart and then suctions to your car or another flat, clean surface. To some it may seem like the product of a paranoid parent, but the reality of a child in a runaway cart is scary enough to warrant a ten-dollar safety investment.

Tot Tattoo Safety

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Most kids love tats. Now there’s a temporary tattoo parents will love more. You get these babies custom printed with contact numbers or any important information in case you’re separated from your child in a public place.

Tottoos, $14.95 for a set of 15, last over 12 hours, are water resistant and non-toxic. What a great idea. Sure beats those field trip type stickers that kids end up peeling off.

Decorative Outlet Covers For The Home

Lisa Estall — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:54:00 GMT

Socket-Lockits have put a new spin on outlet covers. Their decorative covers for the home are meant to be attractive as well as hopefully prevent your child from touching them. If you're worried that a child might want to take it out, they have a self locking barb that will secure the plug into the outlet.

The covers also have a convenient pressure-button release for easy removal and are...

printed with non-toxic ink.

The zebra and giraffe outlet covers are part of their Safari collection. If you don't like animals they have other designs including ones with owls, flowers and polka dots.

Priced at $5.99 you can buy them at the following sites: www.amazon.com, www.fuzzyme.com amd www.kangaroodle.com.

Amazon Deal Alert: Save Up To 20% On Britax Car Seats

Chris Ford — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Right now through February 15th, Amazon is having a massive sale on almost all of their Britax car seats. If you've got a baby on the way, or you're just now realizing your infant isn't going to be an infant much longer and will need a proper car seat soon, then you definitely want to check this out.

I've had a Britax Marathon car seat in my car for over four years now, and the thing is a workhorse. This sale doesn't happen often, so take advantage of it while you can.

Check out all of the seats from Britax on sale (some seats are $60 off) at Amazon.com.

Droolicious Shopping Guide: Summer Infant Monitors

Nicole Feliciano — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:27:00 GMT

Did you hear that? Is the baby awake? Is he breathing? We’re well aware of NPWS (new parents worry syndrome). Checking in on the brand new family member not only makes parents feel better, in many cases it is an excellent safety precaution. Summer Infant has a range of baby monitors that are a dream come true for vigilant parents.

A monitor saves weary parents the trip to the nursery with every whine or cry. Some parents opt for audio only, others go in for video monitors—Summer Infant offers both with the Day & Night Color Flat Screen Video Monitor Set. Debuting this spring ($229.99), this product offers a flat screen monitor and a portable audio unit making it possibly the most comprehensive safety-monitoring device available.

The 7" stationary monitor offers a sharp image of your sleeping (or wide awake) child. And when mom or dad is on the go and still wants to listen in on baby the extra audio unit is quite handy—it even has a belt clip.

Pros: Parents can hear and see baby up to 400’ away.
Cons: Positioning the wall mount camera can be tricky.
Best for: Families seeking versatile coverage for their home.

Day & Night Color Flat Screen Video Monitor: Hear and see baby on a hip 7” flat screen display. ($200)

Pros: Audio-only nighttime option keeps parents from getting distracted by scanning baby’s every move.
Cons: Interference is an issue; parents will have to carefully position the monitor to get best reception.
Best for: Parents who want a sharp visual of their baby.

Secure Sounds 2.4 Ghz Digital Monitor: Audio-only monitor offered in five fashion colors ($49.99)

Pros: Inexpensive, light and rechargeable.
Cons: Feedback forums complain about sound quality and fussy volume control.
Best For: Parents who want to keep things simple.

Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor: Portable video unit loaded with features. ($179.99)

Pros: Lightweight visual display.
Cons: Static pops up in certain zones in the house (i.e. near cordless phones).
Best for: Parents who want to see and hear baby while on the go.

Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor: High-end handheld color video monitor. ($180)

Pros: 100% digital, providing a clear and secure transmission.
Cons: Pricey and a relatively small display area.
Best For: Parents who crave a visual acuity, but don’t want a cumbersome monitor.

Retrolicious: Playful Playpen

Cathy Hale — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The majority of today's playpens/playards come with LOTS of bells and whistles. Not to mention they require a zillion batteries. If you're looking for a simple option that is reminiscent of the playpens of yesteryear, yet much much safer, take a look at this treasure from Sorelle, the Soft N Play Playpen.

The colors are bright and cheery with cute little sun and flower decorations, as well as soft animal friends. There are grippy handle in the plapen so your little one can grab on and stand up easily. Other helpful features include washable cushions, a removable mat cover and padded rails. When it comes to keep baby safe and entertained, the Soft N Play Playpen is a great option. Retails for $199.

How to Keep Babies on Their Backs: Velcro Them

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

We know doctors recommend that babies sleep on their backs to help prevent SIDS. But sometimes when you’re in the 3 am trenches and baby is tossing and turning it can make you a little paranoid. Here’s a new product that claims to help.

I don’t know how I feel about this one, despite the video endorsement from Growing Pains/ TV movie actress Tracy Gold on the company’s website. Though Baby Sleeps Safe, $39.99, looks like most run of the mill sleep sacks it has an additional part: a panel that straps onto the mattress, then you Velcro your baby to it. Hmmm, this seems a little weird. What do you think?

Reduce SIDS Risk With Temperature Monitoring

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:30:00 GMT

It’s amazing that I survived infancy with the way my mother used to bundle me up at night. Not only did I don a zip-up sleeper, but fleece pajamas and blanket to boot. All the while, the heat was pumping in the house. But, apparently this was what mothers in the 70s did. Now the experts agree that temperature control may play a role in reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

If you have a dial thermostat (instead of digital) like me, it may be hard to tell exactly what temperature it is in any given room. Grobag’s Egg Room Thermometer, $24.99, allows you to keep a close eye on temperature. It glows yellow if the room is within recommended guidelines (61-67°F). If the room temperature is outside this range, the Grobag egg acts as a visual reminder for you to take action to cool or heat the room, or to adjust the baby’s bedding or clothing. Bonus use: it also doubles as a nightlight.

SafetyTat Temporary Tattoos Are More Than Just For Show

Chris Ford — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:57:00 GMT

A lot of kid-related email rolls into my inbox each day, and a lot of it isn't worth reading. But sometimes you see something that you have to check out not because you've heard of it before, but because you're not sure if you're reading it correctly. A promotional pitch from SafetyTat temporary tattoos for kids was one of those emails. As it turned out, it was an email about a product that's a pretty cool idea.

SafetyTat temporary tattoos are basically labels you can put on young children that contain contact information, medical information or anything else you might want an adult to know if you and your child were separated for some reason. For instance, you and the family are going to a theme park and you're worried your over-excited son might get lost. With your cell phone number on the tattoo, your child (in theory) would be reunited with you much more quickly.

There are two different kinds of products, one with pre-determined contact info you provide when you purchase the tattoos (these work more like traditional temporary tattoos). And another that's kind of an adhesive "stick-on" tattoo that you can write any information on and are designed to be more portable. They even have products for children with allergies, medical alerts or for children with special needs (autism, autism non-verbal etc.).

It's a pretty cool idea I think, and for the right family it's probably a pretty great idea. Check them out at SafetyTat.com.

7 Days of Baby Proofing: Blending in is Best

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:26:00 GMT

For those of you with treacherous toddlers, you’ve probably learned that the more you draw attention to danger the more they’re attracted to it. That was the thinking behind the design of this discreet tub spout cover.

KidCo’s Extra Soft Bath Tub Spout Cover, $7.99, uses camouflage to keep kids away from it. And since the spout seems to be just the right height for bumping heads and banging teeth, the padded surface will offer some protection. Now that my son likes to practice what I call his tap dancing/running man moves in the tub, think I better invest in one of these before he has a major wipeout.

ABC Expo 2008: Little Life Animal Pack Backpacks

Chris Ford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:32:00 GMT

OK. So my picture isn't the greatest, but the Animal Pack backpacks from Little Life are seriously cool. Well, more like seriously cute and useful, which together I suppose adds up to cool. A small daypack for your little hiker, a rain hood for fun and a tether for mom and dad? Never mind, it's seriously cool.

The Animal Pack comes in four animals (ladybug, cow, bee and turtle) and the hood of each is designed for each animal. So the bee has antennae, the ladybug has eyes etc. It's also designed for those parents who want a tether for their child and a have a child doesn't want to be tethered. "See Billy, I'm not putting you on a leash, it's just a fun backpack that daddy can hold on to at the same time!" (The tether is not for me, but I can see how it would be useful hiking).

It's been available in the UK for a while now, but it's coming to the USA on November 15th and will cost $40 to $42. It will be distributed by Rock Gear Distribution, but you can check out the product pages at LittleLife.co.uk.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Stokke Baby Set

Chris Ford — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:02:00 GMT

Stokke had some new products at ABC this year, and my favorite is what they're calling the "Baby Set." It's a plastic railing (for kids aged six to eighteen months) that goes around your Tripp Trapp chair, but now it has a higher back for extra support. I'm a huge fan of the Trip Trapp chair for older kids, and with this attachment I can really see using it as a high chair for any aged child. It's available in all eleven colors that the Tripp Trapp is available in, or you can mix and match like in the picture above.

The Stokke Baby Set should retail for $89.99. Check it out at StokkeUSA.com

Star Baby: What 12 Celebrities Stroll with the Orbit?

SunnyChanel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:40:00 GMT

The Bugaboo is soooo last year. So what are the celebrity spawn elite being transported in this season (and well the last couple seasons, for those stars ahead of the curve)? Why the Orbit Infant System of course. With the car seat, carrier and stroller, this system makes transferring a baby from auto to the outdoors easy and also, more importantly, safe. But it comes at a price, $900, you'll need that star salary to buy this one.

See what other eleven celebs besides the Mommy Halle Berry above, use the Orbit below:

2. Jessica Alba (above left)

3. Matthew McConaughey (above right)

4. Jaime Pressly

5. Melisa Joan Hart

6. Jack Black (shown, his wife and baby)

7. Fred Savage

8. Tori Spelling

9. Marcia Cross

10. Nicole Richie

11. Chris Noth (right ) 12. Heidi Klum (Left)

7 Days of Bath Time- Go With The Flo!

SunnyChanel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:14:00 GMT

Bath time can be a fun filled water wonderland. Or you can be like me and confront tub time with dread, fear and oodles of caution. Slippery surfaces! Questionable temperatures! Killer water! One other hazard that plagues all baby washers is the hard metal of the faucet. Sure you can get a little plastic inflatable cover, but really is that good enough for your precious offspring? Heck no.

Enter the ‘Flo’ Water Diverter & Faucet Cover. It turns your regular flow of water into a “gentle and cascading waterfall”, dispenses bubble bath at the touch of a button plus it protects your kid from that fearful faucet. Oh and it looks pretty cool too kinda like a lime green space ship. $14.99 here.

Tummy Shield Is A Seat Belt For Pregnant Moms-To-Be

Chris Ford — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:59:00 GMT

Here's something I came across for all of the Droolicious moms-to-be out there. The Tummy Shield is an Australian seat belt contraption for pregnant women that supposedly keeps the baby-to-be safely in-utero while mom is traveling in the car. Which, all things considered, seems like a pretty good idea to me.

The way it works is, there is a seat cushion that the mom sits on with a buckle that goes between the legs. Then you put the shoulder strap seat belt on as normal, except you buckle it to the center between your legs, preventing the lap belt from going across the pregnant middle. It's kind of hard to explain, but you can see how it works from the photo, and there is also step by step instructions here.

It's an Australian product so I don't know anything about if it has passed U.S. safety tests or not, and I'm not vouching for it personally, but it looks like something new-moms-to-be might want to check out.

Check it out at Tummyshield.com.au (via InventorSpot.com).

7 Days of Must Haves: Retractable Safety Gate

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:38:00 GMT

When it comes to safety sometimes style has to take a backseat. Even though I cringed at the thought of screwing a clunky gate to my oak banisters, the thought of my son tumbling down the stairs was far worse. So, I was prepared to do what I had to do. The problem: no gate wide enough to span across my extra wide stairs. Here’s the best solution I’ve found so far.

Retract-A-Gate, $119, is available in sizes up to 72-inches. But aside from being extra wide, this gate does what its name suggests, retracts like a roll shade. It’s perfect for a house like mine where the foot of the staircase is close to the front door and a swing gate would be awkward. The brilliant part is that you can also attach it by using straps instead of screws, so there’s no damage. Retract-A Gate has truly been a lifesaver and has helped keep my sanity now that I’m not continually chasing my son up the stairs.

7 Days of Car Seats: Graco Nautilus 3-in-1

Chris Ford — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:06:00 GMT

When I'm thinking about what makes the perfect car seat, I'm thinking about three things. How safe is it? How many years will I be able to use it (reasonably)? And does the color match my car? Since Erin already took my favorite Britax car seat for toddlers, I'll tell you about my other favorite - the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat.

So for the first criterion, I'm convinced it's very safe. The five point harness works up to 65 pounds, it's steel reinforced. and has a high back. It also lets the child sit more upright than a lot of toddler-only car seats out there which I like too.

As for how long it will last, the cool thing about this seat is that it's a convertible seat. It converts from a toddler seat (with the 5 point harness) to a high-back booster to a backless booster. You'll be getting use out of this one until your kid is old enough to sit up front, which is pretty cool.

And the colors are happily neutral. In my world, kid-stuff like car seats shouldn't match the kid, they should match the car. So if you're looking for ducks and bunnies this might not be for you, but for my car it's perfect.

Check out the Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat (it retails for around $150) at GracoBaby.com

Consumer Reports' Child-Safety Mega-Guide Hitting Stores May 13

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:03:00 GMT

It's a big, scary world out there, and it becomes even scarier when you start having kids, as everything from an open window (falling hazard!) to that wonderful end table your grandparents handed down to you (lead paint!) takes on new life as a potential danger. Hitting stores this Tuesday, the Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety collects 600 tips for averting everyday hazards, starting with the nursery and ending at the neighborhood swimming pool. Among the tips, highlights of which CR will also be making available online (though, fair warning, the site's not live yet):

Is Your Sitter Safety Savvy? A checklist for helping to pick the best, most safety-conscious caregiver for your child.
Playroom Pitfalls: Toy-safety checklists (from stuffed animals to play food), and how to identify hazards, including lead, in the playroom.
Top Summer Fun Tips: How to spot unsafe equipment and toys in the playground, and how to identify poisonous plants and flowers that should be kept out of little ones' reach.
Safe Surfing: Seven Signs Your Child May Be at Risk: Keep your kid on the safe side of the Web, and identify risks and predators before they infiltrate your home PC.
Nursery: How to choose the right crib and mattress, along with other nursery essentials, and how to spot potentially health and safety hazards when you're decorating.
Everyday Objects That Can Harm Your Child: Get some surprising tips about the potential dangers behind everyday household objects.

The Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety is available for just under $11 (normally $12.95) at Amazon.

Mariah Carey Has a Hello Kitty Boo-Boo on American Idol

Chris Ford — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:02:00 GMT

Am I the only one that noticed Mariah Carey was wearing a Hello Kitty Band-Aid on American Idol last night? (Check out her right hand). It's the same type of bandages my 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old girls wear when they get a boo-boo. In fact, my youngest has one on now, which she'll proudly show you every time she gets her diaper changed.

At what age does wearing Hello Kitty stuff (as an adult) go from cute, to kind of tired, to kind of sad, to kind of creepy? And at what stage is Mariah? I'll leave that for you to decide.

You can always buy a box of your own, $3.39 for a box of twenty from Amazon.com

Photo: Anything Hollywood