I don't know why or how it happens but when you have a child you seem to 'need' so many things when you go for an outing. Even for a simple outing to the park can require a diaper bag, your purse, toys & what-not to entertain your little one. And all of that can really weigh you down, so to save your shoulders you strap these items onto the handle of your baby stroller. I have seen moms come in to my store with diaper bag straps tied in big knots on the handle of the stroller, along with shopping bags tied on the sides of the stroller too. I just imagine all the time it takes to tie the bags on, then untie them when they get back home and heaven forbid you need something inside one of those bags tied in the elaborate knots it took to get it to stay on the stroller.
There is a better solution...it's the Hook 'n' Stroll. There are two in each package so it's a bargain at just $9.95 per package. They have a strong velcro strap that will easily accomodate just about any size stroller handle and can hold up to 11 lbs each. The generous sized hook swivels 360 degrees so you can quickly hang your purse, diaper bag, shopping bags, even some toys from the hook, and just as quickly take it off. But the uses for the Hook 'n' Stroll are not limited to stroller use. They are also great to use in the car to hook around the headrest posts to hold toys to entertain you child, or even on the rails of your babies crib to hold a musical toy or other items to allow baby to watch them while resting. The Hook 'n' Stroll is made by See Me Smile, the same company that makes theBearView Mirrors that allow you to safely keep an eye on your baby in rear-facing infant seats while you drive. They are so clever! You will probably find a million other uses for the Hook 'n' Stroll hooks...and when you do I would love to hear about them!
Another Great Product from Boon that encourages a child to pick up after themselves, while having fun...the Oval Animal Bag. It is such a creative way to organize the Tons of stuffed animals that little ones seem to accumulate. Then once the bag is stuffed its a fun chair or play ball. I really like this!
Oval Animal Bags Stuffed Animal Storage & Soft Seat This over-sized, plush bag is covered with large, zippered windows made out of transparent, durable mesh. Children can fill the bag with stuffed animals of all sizes, and then use the Animal Bag as a soft seat. Made from high quality, breathable fabrics, the Animal Bag is machine washable, or it can be dry-cleaned.
These are absolutely the Cutest, most functional bath toy organizers I've seen! Boon makes such neat stuff. Anything that helps your toddler learn to clean up after themselves...while having fun, is a Great product in my book.
Frog or Bug Pods
Bath Toy Scoop, Drain & Storage
The Frog & Bug Pods® helps with children’s bath time clean-up, providing a drainable scoop for collecting and rinsing toys and a wall-mounted base for storing bath products. The Frog or Bug Pod® attaches semi-permanently to virtually any bathtub wall with adhesive strips that can be removed without harming tile or wall surfaces. Alternatively, the Pod® can be screw-mounted to any wall.
Makes bath time clean-up fun & easy
Stores & organizes bath accessories
Reduces mold & mildew
Frog Dimensions: 19" x 16 1/2" x 7" Bug Dimensions: 11" x 17" x 7-1/2"
Recommended ages: All ages
Price: $34.99
Toys not included
If you prefer not to use the adhesive strips to hang the Pod, we also offer a wall bracket that mounts to the wall using eight suction cups. Using this option allows you to easily reposition the wall bracket as needed, however we recommend only storing 5 lbs in the Pod when using the suction cup bracket. Holds up to 10 lbs when mounted with adhesive strips, and up to 20 lbs when using screws. Frog or Bug Suction Cup Wall Brakets available separately.
Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued 8 Crib Recalls for various brand names of Drop-Side Cribs. If you currently have any of the crib brands below, please click on the links to see All of the models included in these recalls. The images I have posted here only represent 1 of each recall, there are multiple models included in each recall.
Note to our customers: NONE of the drop-side cribs that we carry in our store were involved in any of these recalls. We ONLY stock drop-side cribs with metal hardware, and metal mattress supports.
I'm hoping that none of my readers have any of the cribs involved in this recall. Please share this post with everyone that you know...just in case a friend or loved one has one of these cribs.
At The Baby Store Plus customer service is one of our top priorities. We always try to answer emails promptly, give assistance over the telephone when needed, ship orders as fast as humanly possible (within 1 business day is our guarantee) and now we also have Live Help via Chat Support available any time I am on a computer...anywhere, anytime! Not just during normal business hours either, but anytime that I am logged on to one of my computers, I will be available on our New Live Help Chat Support line, ready to assist you.
Here is our friendly operator....
Well, actually Sydney is too young to chat just yet, so you will have to settle for chatting with me. So from now on, if I am up until midnight on a Saturday evening working on a blog post for the next week, and you have a question about something while shopping in our online store, just click on the Live Help Chat button and I will be there to help you. Regardless of whether I am in the store, in my home office, kicking back on my bed with a laptop, or even on the road with my laptop...I will be there to assist you in any way that I can.
If I am not at my computer at that very moment, the link will say "Offline" in red letters. If I am logged in to any of my 5 computers (yes, I am a bit addicted), then you will see "Online" in green letters. Even if I am not online at that moment, you can still click on the link and the Volusion software will let you send me a message. The next time I log-on I will instantly get your message and answer you right away.
Go ahead and give it a try right now, just for fun. Go to The Baby Store Plus online store and find the 'Live Help' chat button found near the bottom of the following pages: Home, About Us, or Contact Us. It looks like this: If it says "Online" in green, then click on it and say HI!
Did you know that June is Officially Potty Training Awareness Month? I don't know who made it 'official' but I can understand why June was chosen for this 'awareness month'. Although I did not have boys myself, I did have a daycare in my home so I did get to help potty train little boys. And the summer months made it especially easy because while we would be playing outside, the little boys would think nothing of 'watering' the flowers, a tree, the rocks, the driveway, or even occasionally, the side of my house. What potty training boy could resist the fun of peeing on a flower bush when he had to 'go'? It was way more fun then sitting on a potty chair like the girls did, or even running inside when so much was going on outside. So I agree that June is the most appropriate month to make the Official Potty Training Awareness Month.
In honor of Potty Training Awareness Month I thought is appropriate to make you aware of a really cool potty seat that we now carry in our store. It is the Boon Potty Bench. It comes in the bold Boon colors of Green or Blue and is truly a toilet with all the bells and whistles, and at a totally affordable price of just $34.99. You can find it in our online store by clicking here.The Boon Potty Bench has two enclosed side storage spaces that are perfect for keeping your potty training supplies, like potty books, potty charts & stickers or any of your childs favorite books or small toys that they might want to have while sitting on the potty. It even has a built-in toilet paper holder, making it seem more like a grown up toilet. It has a pull-out drawer that makes it easy to empty the potty and sanitize too. For boys there is a removable deflector shield that is soft & flexible so it helps to guard against injuries. With the sleek, modern design the Potty Bench will look stylish in your bathroom and serves as a super sturdy step stool that can support up to 300 lbs!So if your little one is nearing the potty training stage, I suggest that you take a look at the Boon Potty Bench. Although it is suggested that you not start potty training until your child reaches at least the age of 18 months, it is never too early to introduce your child to the seat. Let them get use to seeing this piece of furniture in your bathroom before you start potty training so that it doesn't seem frightening to your little one later, when the time is right for him or her.
If you are getting ready for potty training, here are some great resources to help you and your little one progress through this stage with fun, adventure, and the least amount of stress for either of you.
I wish you both lots of success and patience...no two children potty train at the same age, stage, or by exactly the same method. Be flexible, patient, and understanding of accidents. Remember that we ALL had to go through the potty training stage, and unless you wear adult diapers now...you made it through and so will your little one.
If you are already past this stage, please comment below to share some tips and ideas that you learned that you think might be helpful to other moms approaching this stage.
When my kids were babies, 26 and 29 years ago, we did not have rear-facing infant seats. They faced forward and I even put them in the front seat so I could keep a close eye on them. The knowledge about safety was very different then, so now all infants through at least 12 months of age are required to be in rear-facing infant seats. Due to the wonderful improvements in auto-safety and airbags, now they cannot even sit in the front seat.
When my grandkids were born my daughter and I worried about them when they were all the way in the back seat AND facing backwards. What if they stopped breathing? What if they were choking on something? What if they spit up and needed cleaned up? All of this and many other 'What if's" ran through our heads. So someone always had to be the designated 'baby watcher'. We didn't go anywhere that someone wasn't sitting in the back to watch the baby.
Sound ridiculous but it gave us both some peace of mind. Then we discovered the BearView Mirrors which allows a nervous ninny mom (or grandma) to easily keep an eye on the baby in a rear-facing car seat, all the way back there in the back seat, while driving! I immediately decided that the BearView Mirrors were a 'Must-Have' for my baby & maternity shop. I recommend them to ALL new parents, expecting parents, and as the #1 Baby Shower Gift.
The BearView mirrors come in 5 Adorable Plush Characters: Monkey, Pink Puppy, Brown Puppy, Tan Bear, and a Panda. They provide entertainment for your baby, and allow you to drive worry free. You just attach the BearView to the headrest where your baby's car seat is positioned, then adjust your rear-view mirror so that you can easily see your baby in the big 7" wide convex mirror positioned in the belly of the plush animal.
Because babies love to look at themselves, the BearView Mirror is also great to attach to the crib rails so your baby can look at herself while she lays down for a nap, or for propping up to play with your baby during tummy-time.
There are several ways to install the BearView in your vehicle, depending on whether or not you have a headrest in the rear seats. Below is a video demonstrating how to install a BearView in a vehicle with a rear headrest. For vehicles without a headrest click here to see both installation videos.
Instructions for Installation in vehicles With a rear headrest.
When your baby starts walking and becomes a toddler they also become very independent and think they should be allowed to walk in public places without you holding their hands 'like a baby'. However, we parents and grandparents know that this is not always a safe thing for them to do. Walking along a busy sidewalk or in a parking lot can be very dangerous for small children. Walking in busy public places like shopping malls or airports can also pose a problem as a toddler doesn't know to that they need stay next to you and they can quickly get away from you.
In these kinds of situations many parents opt for a child harness, but they tend to feel very self-conscious with their child in what looks like a dog leash. Yes, there are new child harnesses on the market that are disguised as backpacks, but they all have one huge flaw that isn't always apparent until you have used one...the tether strap. You have to hold the tether strap constantly or you have two options: stop the child and pack the tether strap away inside the pack when you don't need to hold it OR you let it drag along behind them getting filthy dirty. The later is not a good option because you probably don't want to pick the dirty thing up again.
But there IS another option...it is the Baby Sherpa Safe2Go Backpack Harness. Why is it so much better than the others? Because the tether strap is retractable! Each of these cute character backpacks conceal that it is actually a safety harness. The backpack/safety harness is equipped with adjustable padded shoulder and waist straps so it is comfortable to wear. It also comes with a retractable 38" tether which can hold children up to 50 lbs (tested up to 50lbs of pulling strength) and automatically retracts into the pack when you don't need it.
The tether is the same type used in dog leashes. There is no slack dragging on the ground because the tether automatically retracts when the child is close to you. I use this same type of tether for my dogs and I have never had a problem with the tether getting tangled when retracting, or breaking when pulled, even when a cat runs by and my dogs take off after it.
The Safe2Go Backpack is designed for children walking age to 4 years old. It meets the ASTM and CE standards and is CPSIA Compliant. I am very excited to have them now available in my store. My granddaughter Sydney and I are going to really get lots of use out of hers this weekend when we visit the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona. That is one place that I want to be sure that she is always close by, but I also want her to feel like the 'big girl' that she is. I personally recommend this product for parents and grandparents of toddlers through 4 years old, as it offers safety for your little one and peace of mind for us parents and grandparents.
We Love boon! So of course we were very excited to receive a new shipment of products that we didn't previously have in our store. One of the Newest items that you may have head a lot about recently, if you read mom blogger reviews, is the Dispensing Spoon made for Plum Organics Baby Food. These little spoons will revolutionize feeding baby. I L-O-V-E Plum Organics Baby Food. If you have not tried it yet...you need to. Their fruits taste just like fresh fruit from the Farmer's Market. They come in pouches instead of jars and now Boon has created a dispensing spoon that attaches directly to the top of the pouch. It works like their Squirt Dispensing Spoons, but you don't need to remove the baby food from the pouch and load it into the handle...with this one you just twist it right onto the pouch and squeeze the pouch to dispense a bite full of baby food right in to the spoon. This allows mom to feed baby with just one hand...leaving the other hand free to entertain baby, wipe babies face, or hold the baby's hand so he doesn't grab the spoon while you are trying to feed him. These are so great to keep in your diaper bag for feeding on-the-go! A 2-Pack of Plum Dispensing Spoons are just $3.99in our online store, and in our physical store in Cortez, Colorado.
Speaking of the Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon....We have them too!The Squirt is the Convenient One-handed Feeding Solution! It's an easy-to-fill bulb holds 3 oz of baby food. They you just squeeze the handle to dispense the baby food onto the spoon, one bite at a time. The cap seals food in and keeps the spoon clean between feedings. Where where these when my kids were babies? So glad that new mommies have such smart inventors creating wonderful products to make a moms like just a little bit easier.
I really enjoy looking at everyone's Wordless Wednesday posts. I think of it as a sneak peak into their head when I look at the pictures that they thought were perfect for a Wordless Wednesday. I never thought about posting my own until last week when we were finishing up a nearly 8 week run of working out of state during the day and managing the details of my store via computer at night. I took these pictures (with my cell) on our last day...when I took the time away from my crazy work schedule to smell the flowers...and appreciate the beauty that is always around me, even when I don't take the time to notice it.
This is the forest that was burned out about 8 years ago. Those yellow cones are to protect the pine tree seedlings inside them.
Are you new to Cloth Diapers looking for answer to help you understand how using cloth is better for your Baby, the Earth, and even your Wallet? Are you already a Cloth Diaper Mama and just want to learn a few new tricks?
Would you like to Win some Cloth Diapers, Diaper Accessories, or even Gift Certificates to Buy other Baby Products? Then you need to visit Home Grown Families blog to enter the COVER THE BOOTY Cloth Diaper Events Going on all Month Long...
...And ENTERto WIN a $25.00 Baby Store PlusGiveaway she is hosting for us!!
Melissa has been so extremely helpful in informing me about all of the different Cloth Diaper styles, brands, pro's & con's, and even the best methods of laundering your cloth diapers. With her help we will be bringing your top choices of Cloth Diapers and associated accessories to The Baby Store Plus, very soon!
Besides being a Cloth Diapering Mama, she is also a Homeschooling Mama too! Her blog offers information about projects and lessons that she is using and so much more. She would me a great resource for other homeschooling parents. She also hosts tons of great Reviews & Giveaways. If you have a little on in your life, you should add her website to your Fav Sites list.
TheBaby Sherpa Diaper Bag Backpacks have arrived...and just in time for Father's Day too! What a perfect Gift for the New or Soon-to-be Dad. He wont be embarrassed to tote this diaper bag around. With two great styles (Original and Alpha) & four cool colors like Navy, Black, and Camo (Original) and Black Graphite (Alpha),they are great for Dads and Moms.
The one thing I like most about the Baby Sherpa Diaper Bag Backpack, besides the fact that his has massive storage space and pockets for everything, is that it is a backpack! So it isn't hanging off (or rather falling off) your shoulder, making it difficult to get through doorways and other narrow pathways, and you have full use of both arms to hold your precious new baby.
The Original Baby Sherpa Diaper Bag Backpack and the Alpha Sherpa both can hold 8 canned beverages in its cooler, have an insulted bottle pocket and a water bottle pocket, are very light weight at just under 3 lbs empty. The Original Baby Sherpa has 1596 cu in storage capacity while the Alpha Sherpa has a whopping 1750 cu in capacity which includes a Laptop Sleeve to accommodate a standard 14" laptop. They also both fit 'carry-on' requirements of most airlines.
But the uses for the Hook 'n' Stroll are not limited to stroller use. They are also great to use in the car to hook around the headrest posts to hold toys to entertain you child, or even on the rails of your babies crib to hold a musical toy or other items to allow baby to watch them while resting.
.jpg)
