droolicious : television

Finally, A Sleeved Blanket For Kids Too - The Snugglette

Chris Ford — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:30:00 GMT

If you watch TV, then chances are you've seen the Snuggie advertised. Basically it's a blanket with sleeves, and although it's not exactly the caliber of "Where's the Beef?" or "I've fallen, and I can't get up!", the commercial is pretty memorable. Well, I suppose a rolling stone gathers no moss in the world of sleeved blanket making, because the Snuggie people are now selling a sized-down version for kids - the Snugglette.

The Snuglette is made of "Super Soft, Luxurious Fleece", is machine washable and is available in "Royal Blue" or "Pretty Pink." It even comes with a free pair of matching "Slipper Socks." And guess what? If you act NOW you can get a second one FREE (just pay an additional $7.95 P&H).

Huh? So, uh, what does that all come to?

Basically, for a pair of Snugglettes and two pairs of Slipper Socks (all of which you have to buy together) you'll be paying $35.85.

Oh, and beware of the link below. The TV commercial for the Snugglette starts the moment the page loads. But if you've got headphones on, then click away.

Check it out at Sungglette.com.

Have A Party In Your Tummy

Lisa Estall — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:42:00 GMT

Don't you think Yo Gabba Gabba is just wacky? I remember watching the show one day with my son and they were singing the party in my tummy song. My kid was captivated by the music and dancing.

If you're a fan, you can own the Party In My Tummy t-shirt.

Shirt sizes start at 3T and is priced at $13.98.

Sold at the Yogabbagabbastore.com.

Yo Gabba Gabba - Forget the $100 Hoody, Show Your Love for $19.99

SunnyChanel — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:00:00 GMT

$100 is way too much to spend on a hoody for my baby - which was the price of the Yo Gabba Gabba sweatshirts offered at Kidrobot (which just went on sale for $37.50 here). I wanted to show our family's love for our favorite show in a less expensive “honey, I spent your college fund on clothing” sort of way. Last weekend we made a trek to our local Target to pick up some dog biscuits and we ended up with three pairs of glittery shoes, a new set of towels and a porch swing. What did we not leave with? We didn’t buy any of the new amazing Yo Gabba Gabba merch they had in their toy section. Between the singing dolls, figures with cars, dance mats, song filled mics, bouncy balls and the Gab ‘N Sing Plushies above ($19.99 here - the only toy they have offererd online), I went thru a Yo Gabba Gabba overload. There were just too many choices that I if I didn’t buy it all, I just shouldn’t buy any. I’ll leave that up to you, so get shopping!

Concept TV Reaches for Your Child's Inner Zombie

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:03:00 GMT

My family spent the past week fighting off an absolutely wretched bug -- not so unmanageable when it was just the kids, but as Mom and I fell ill (and, as these things always go, we got it 10x as bad as they did), we found ourselves praying for a way to keep the little ones pacified while we recovered. Then, like an angel from concept-electronics heaven, Babble's Rachael Brownell sent along this link to a prototype from designer Sung-kyu Nam -- I swear just the thought of it cut my recovery time in half.

Of course, now that I'm better, it's a little easier to raise an eyebrow at the NapTV: The gizmo's stool feature makes it ideal for pulling up to the play table or the homework bench or any other TV-unrelated area, sure, but slide your head under the stool, and it's like a TV-powered MRI, with SpongeBob and Dora flooding your tissues in place of magnetic fields. And that's just one of the potential red flags: How healthy is it to position your head that close to the screen and speakers, and what sort of values does it teach kids to lie prone while TV just sort of happens to them?

That said, there are days when I'd like to shut out all distractions and escape Planet Earth via Planet Earth -- maybe this is the ultimate route there.

[Coroflot via The UberReview]

Illustrations from Noggin Designer Melinda Beck

Chris Ford — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:45:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of children's television network Noggin, and I particularly love their broadcast design. Specifically, the illustrations created by designer Melinda Beck (including Moose A. Moose) are my favorites. After writing about her today on my blog, I came across some artwork for sale on her website. There are all kinds of illustrations, but the "Flock of Birds" are most similar to the illustrations on Noggin.

They are $25 each, and might look great in the room of the Noggin fan in your life.

Flock of Birds, Ink and Collage, 3" x 2.5", $25 each from MelindaBeck.com

The Upside Down Show on DVD

Chris Ford — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:31:00 GMT

Devotees of The Upside Down Show on Noggin are understandably upset over the show's recent cancellation. In fact, there was a write-in campaign over on the Babble Boards to try and save it. Although it looks like there won't be any new shows on television (in the United States at least), some of the show's episodes have been released on DVD in in Australia.

You'll have to have a multi-region DVD player (the DVD is in the PAL format) or you'll have to play it on your computer.

The Upside Down Show (Volumes 1 & 2), AU$19.83 from ezdvd.com.au

High Noon for Cartoons: Sharp Shootin' TV Remote

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:03:00 GMT

First things first: I don't own a gun, and I don't believe in keeping one. That said, I'd buy my three boys this Sharp Shootin' Remote Control ($9.99 from Amazon) in a minute, if only to re-train them on how to approach the idiot box. It borrows one function from your TV's remote -- for example, channel up, channel down, or the only one I'd program, power off -- and sounds a cartoonish "BANG!" every time you point and shoot at the tube. It even comes with a sheriff's badge so you can drive home the point that this family room ain't big enough for the both of us. (Tip-off via Swiss Miss.)

Sesame Street "Old School" DVD: Not For Kids?

Chris Ford — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:20:00 GMT

A good friend of mine the other day sent me this link to a NY Times article by Virginia Heffernan about the DVD release of Sesame Street: Old School (1969-1974). Apparently there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the DVD saying that it's for adults, and not meant for children today. Which is, I suppose, PBS' way of saying that it would never hold up to our modern, Nick Jr/Noggin/PBS Kids standards of what is appropriate for young children.

The article is really great, and reminds those of us who grew up in those times what Sesame Street was really like, and how if you think about it, it's kind of the anti-Elmo's World. Nowadays they couldn't even create a character like Oscar the Grouch, or a furry elephant/monster (Snuffleupagus) that only Big Bird can see, which is why I'm going to get a copy to watch with my kids as soon as I can.

Sesame Street Old School: 1969-1974, $39.98 from Sesameworkshop.org (and get it from them so the Workshop gets all the support they can).

Jessica Alba Baby Shower "Gifts"

Chris Ford — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:24:00 GMT

If you haven't heard yet (and if you haven't, then you really should be reading FameCrawler more often), Tyra Banks just threw Jessica Alba a baby shower on her television show (because really, if there's one person who needs free kids stuff, it's the Fantastic Four's Invisible Girl). Apparently the Tyra Show got together with MomLogic.com and came up with a bunch of new products that every new Hollywood mom must have. After the jump I'll list them (along with some of my own snarky comments).

The Cariboo Classic Bassinet ($359.95) & Cariboo Activity Gym ($159.95). A beautiful, expensive bassinet that she'll use for about six months and then get rid of.

Cariboo Puretec Blankets $99.95 - $159.95. A baby blanket for $159.95 doesn't even deserve a comment.

Lillebaby Euro Tote ($119.95). Baby in a bag! We've been talking about these for a while on Droolicious.

Svan High Chair ($249.95). Even at that price, it's hard to make a snide comment about a beautiful high chair. Even though if you so much as cut a piece of pizza on it you'll dramatically reduce the resale value. OK. It wasn't that hard.

Svan Scooter ($119.95). For the right age group (i.e. not Jessica's impending infant) this is a really cool product.

Svan Bouncer ($119.95) For a hundred and twenty dollars it better take care of the midnight feeding too.

Yo My Booties Baby Booties ($50). If you can't put your infant in Uggs, super-furry baby shoes are probably the next best thing.

Yo My Booties Zebra and Cheetah Sweaters ($85). Expensive, but these look pretty cool.

Yo My Booties Pom Pom Hat ($50). Isn't a baby hat for $50 the definition of conspicuous?

Valco Baby TriMode All Terrain Stroller ($425) with Infant Bassinet ($150). No comment. I'm a Bugaboo man myself.

Lautrec Toulouse Diaper Bag ($236), Mommy Chic Diaper Bag ($395) & Femme Chic Diaper Bag ($360). Any one of these would be way too much money, but three? If you're worried about your kid crapping on it, it's time to get a new diaper bag. And if you don't care about your kid crapping on a $395 diaper bag? More power to you.

Lil Safari Girl Pre-Walker and Lil Dino Boy Pre-Walker Shoes ($34.95). A new Robeez ~~competitor~~? [Reader Laura correctly points out, Robeez is also owned by Stride Rite, having a virtual baby shoe monopoly. -mdd] I'll have to check them out.

Sleep Sheep, Sleep Sheep on the Go, Lavender Lab, Baby Sheep Rattle ($6 - $24). Finally. A baby toy.

Bel Bambini Gift Basket ($500) and Gift Certificate ($1000). Oh. I guess there wasn't enough free crap. Now she can go pick out some more herself.

So there it is. And the grand total of all the free swag Jessica Alba is getting? About $4,861.50 by my calculations.

Check out more about it at Mom Logic.com (including a clip of the show).

Photo of the Tyra Show source: Pagesix

The Babble Review: BOB The Screentime Controller

Chris Ford — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:54:00 GMT

If you're looking to limit the amount of time your children spend on any one electronic device (like a video game machine, television or computer) without fighting them about it all the time, BOB from Hopscotch Technology might be something you should check out. The idea is simple - control the power to the device and you can control how much your kid can use it. My full review is after the jump.

The way it works is, you plug the power cord of the device you want to limit into the BOB, where it gets locked up with a key. Then you plug the BOB into the outlet, and BOB determines how much power flows through to the device. Everyone who wants access gets their own password and account on BOB, and the parent sets usage time limits for each account. You can also set up blocks of time when the device can't be used at all as well as add time on the fly if you want to reward your child (or let them finish a movie for instance).

I was able to use one for a couple of days and, although my children are still too young to use it, I have to say it works pretty well. When the time limit is almost up it gives a loud annoying beep for a minute, warning you to finish up what you're doing before it shuts things off automatically. There is even a feature that allows for devices that need to have power running to them all the time (like a computer). In that mode BOB monitors the power flow to the device, and if there is an increase (when you turn the device on) it sends a minute warning and then shuts the power down if you don't log in. It will even report back to the parent that the device was turned on without permission.

With usage reporting for the parent as well as the ability to add flex time, I have to say it seems they've though of every feature a parent could possibly want. Keep in mind the device will only work with things that need to be plugged in (so it won't work with a Nintendo DS or a PSP for instance) and it only works with the power cord. If the device you're using has a removable power cord (like a video game system), it would be possible for an enterprising teenager to just buy another power cord and keep it hidden. But other than that extreme scenario, if you're looking to let your child manage the time you give them with a television or similar device, BOB might be for you.

BOB from Hopscotch Technology is available for $78.87 from Amazon.com

CES 2008: Hannspree Themed Televisions

Chris Ford — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:02:00 GMT

No. This isn't the Apple TV that's been in the news recently. Hannspree makes flat screen televisions for kid's rooms or play rooms in all kinds of themes. There are sports televisions (basketballs, footballs etc.), televisions in the shapes of fire trucks, and even plush animals. They also have MLB and NBA licensing. You're going to pay more for the fancy housing, but I can definitely see people buying them.

Check out the product lines at the Hannspree corporate website. Most are available starting around $250.

CES 2008: Sirius Backseat TV

Chris Ford — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:27:00 GMT

Sirius Backseat TV is a product squarely focused on marketing to parents of young children. Working alongside your current Sirius Satellite Radio service, it's a system for getting children's programming to backseat video monitors.

The content is all for children - Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel and Cartoon Network Mobile - and seems like it would be something that might be worthwhile if you already have video monitors in the back seat. It costs $6.99/month (on top of your Sirius Radio subscription) and is available as a feature in some new Dogde, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles. A kit to install it into your current vehicle will be available in the second quarter of 2008.

Check out the product page at Sirius.com.

TV STINKS!

Karen — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:31:00 GMT

I couldn't be more in love with this shirt/onesie. I want to kiss it, hug it, adopt it and sing it to sleep. TV does STINK - of sneaky marketing and child-focused trickery. Available in 6 months up to 6T, I'm so jealous that there aren't adult sizes!

$18.95 at Sandbox Threads. One of many to choose from - it was hard to pick just one design!

Baby TV For the Big Brother In All of Us

Kelly Mills — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:01:00 GMT

When my little one was a baby, I got regular cramps in my calves from tiptoeing in her room for a quick peek to ensure she was still breathing. The baby monitor only offered partial peace of mind, because at least once a nap she'd make some strange snuffling sound that I was sure was the early signs of suffocation, and I'd have to run and check, clutching my legs the whole time. Now parents can keep a close eye on the sleeping angel with the MobiCam Ultra Wireless Monitoring System ($127.78), which features a camera and receiver with a nice big color display so that baby is always a TV star. Plus it has (ooooh) night vision up to 25 feet. If it seems "big brother," it is, but hey, you are on camera most of the time yourself, what with all the super surveillance going on everywhere. And at least you aren't circling the crib in a black helicopter.