Owner: The Opinionated Parent URL:http://www.theopinionatedparent.com Join Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2007 10:58:07 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Giving you the goods, parent to parent. Product reviews, recommendations, roasts, giveaways and more. TOP is 'the new black" of parent review blogs. Site statistics:Click here
It’s Sage, Baby. 2007-04-28 12:00:00 It’s a well known fact even among the least environmentally conscious of us that chemicals are harmful. Susan Gluck-Pappajohn & Francesca Olivieri started Sage Baby NYC with the mission to help new and expectant parents take the next step –beyond organic food– in creating a healthier environment for their babies and children.
As new mothers, they saw their peers diligently serving organic milk and food to their children so that they are not exposed to numerous toxins and chemicals, only to turn around and unknowingly expose their children regularly to a variety of other toxic chemicals in their households and elsewhere. Through their company they have searched the world to identify the very finest and most stylish organic and non-toxic products, like this limited edition rattle hand-turned from pesticide free old-growth applewood. Wow.
Sage Baby began in 2005 selling only to NYC locals via trunk shows. With that success under their organic cotton belts, they
PLAY! 2007-04-27 12:00:41 As a new-ish mom, when I think of milkshakes I think of either (a) the delicious food I haven’t had in years or (b) myself, flopping up and down as I run. (It’s true. Sad, but true.)
From now on, however, I’ll be thinking of a great kiddie-rock band. Milkshake has released their third CD entitled ‘PLAY!’. I’m a little late to the party, apparently. (Nothing new there.)
The kids have known all along how great this band is. They appear on the NOGGIN Channel, PBS KIDS and starting this spring, they’ll appear daily on DISCOVERY KIDS.
Milkshake’s mission is simple. To create great rock music for kids. Actually, judging by some of the stuff out there it’s not that simple - but they’ve managed to do it. Led by singer Lisa Mathews and guitarist Mikel Gehl (of indie rock group Love Riot fame), Milkshake has become a favourite of preschoolers and parents alike. It’s the stuff of legend. The creation of great kiddie-rock withou
Hola sans Dora 2007-04-26 12:00:35 Bilingual living is awesome if you’re so inclined. I’ve always wanted to be bilingual but without direct immersion it was next to impossible, even with 14 years of French in grade school & university.
Among many other benefits, bilingualism gives children a head start in brain development and can put them at the front of the pack in their future job searches. But sometimes, you want the Hola without the Dora.
The multilingual books & CD’s from our friends at Il Cocco di Mamma make great learning tools and allow you to enjoy the wonder of language without the crazy fake accents displayed by those of us who try and fail. They carry several of the classic Dr. Seuss books and some awesome ‘Elmer the elephant’ stories, beautifully illustrated picture dictionaries & flash cards and CD’s packed with traditional children’s folk songs in various languages.
Il Cocco di Mamma is offering TOP readers FREE SHIPPING in the US and Canada, an
Because teddy bears do not equal fashion ~ for parents or kids. 2007-04-25 12:00:09 The Opinionated Parents are strong believers in baby wearing and we all do it. Mom of two, Rachel Panush, is the same. She began making slings for herself before the arrival of her first child, and she never stopped. She decided to turn her hobby into a web business and Posh Papoose was born.
Rachel’s aim is to make well made, useful, user-friendly, fun, and stylish slings to encourage baby wearing by all. She has definitely succeeded in all respects. Her selection of gorgeous prints and limited edition fabrics is very impressive. Each sling is made from three yards of limited edition highest quality cotton, making them comfortable, easy to maneuver and extremely functional. I started out my mothering life with a custom made ring sling that I thought was fine until I tried a Posh Papoose Ultra. Not only was it much more stylish but so much more practical. It has a long tail that I have used as both a nursing cover and a sunshade, and the tail has two very large pockets Read more:teddy
Moms Rock, Indeed. 2007-04-24 12:00:19 ‘Tis that time of year when we’re on the lookout for superb Mother’s Day gifts.
Motherhood is an amazing thing. Great moms deserve to be celebrated every day but there’s one day a year when mom gets all the attention. And presents!
Sometimes the presents collect dust. Find a knick knack that says mom and some poor woman will have to dust it forever. Sometimes they stick to the fridge. Every mom loves homemade art.
Sometimes you slime them down your throat with a fake smile on your face loving it all the same. Mmmm, kid-made eggs.
But sometimes, you just want something simple and understated. I’m a mom who hates clutter who was raised by a mom who hates clutter. (Stop reading here, Mom, or you won’t be surprised on May 13!)
The MOMS ROCK tees from 2 Funky Mums are the answer.
These awesome ‘flashy but totally not froofy’ t-shirts are hand emblazoned with rhinestones in large block letters. They have the classic MOMS ROCK in a va
It’s a Snap(pi)! 2007-05-01 20:00:09 by Candice
When I was preparing for the arrival of my first born, I, like every mother, had a lot of decisions to make about how I would care for my bundle of joy. And, like many mothers, I read countless books and did my share of internet searching as well.
I became interested in cloth diapering and decided to give it a try. Parents who have researched this option know that there is a huge variety (and price range) of cloth diapering possibilities. All-in-ones? Pre-folds? Hemp? Cotton?
It became clear early in my search that All-in-Ones, while the Cadillac of cloth diapers, were not in my price range. I resigned myself to the “cheap” old-fashioned nappies called “flat diapers” (think “burp cloth”) with a semi-fancy Velcro cover.
But pins? Could I fasten a cloth diaper onto a squirming newborn using pins? My gut instinct told me “No!”.
Luckily there is an option out there for squeamish vegetarian mothers like myself.
Behold: The SNAPPI Fastener!
The Snappi fastener i
Be The Star That You Are! 2007-05-01 12:00:39 MeMovies is creative editing at it’s best. All it takes is one clear snapshot and they’ll transport your child into one of two children’s movies.
He or she is seen dozens of times in different colorful settings and their name is spoken throughout the show. (and with the correct pronunciation, even if her name is Kylyeigha. (Yes, I met one. It’s Ky-lay-ah.) Even the DVD case is customized with your child’s name and smiling face!
Bee & Me, for children up to 4 years old, features original cartoon characters having fun and playing games with your little star. The child is seen often during the movie in a variety of activities such as flying in a hot air balloon, playing hide-n-seek and appearing on stage in a dance performance with the bee. Our son was thrilled each time he appeared on the screen!
Costume Party is for kids aged 4-7 and is perfect for kids who love make-believe. (Show me one who doesn’t!) The child is seen deep-sea diving wit
Fleece for Baby by Fleece Baby (By Fleece!) 2007-04-30 20:00:27 It must have been destiny. When mom Jennifer Fleece
wanted something softer than cotton for her baby’s crib sheet, she decided to make her own. Of what, you ask? Why fleece, of course! Fleece Baby was born, like almost all parent-invented products, of necessity. We’ve been reviewing Fleece Baby sheets and aren’t quite sure how we lived without them for so long.
Fleece Baby crib sheets & playpen sheets have a brilliant patent pending 6 inch deep pocket and elastic all the way around the bottom. They’re easy to get on (I was surprised that they were actually easier than less secure sheets) and easy to get off, yet no amount of tugging from the top by little hands will make them pop off. You actually have to lift the mattress.
One might think that fleece would be too hot. I thought that, but it’s absolutely not true. They’re definitely warmer than cotton sheets when they need to be, but they wick away moisture keeping babies cool, dry, and c
It really is a miracle. 2007-04-30 12:00:43 If you’re like me, you see a product with the word ‘miracle
’ in the title and you think it’s a scam made just for annoying infomercials. The Miracle Blanket , however, is anything but.
We have been reviewing the Miracle Blanket for a while now. We have two associates with new babies who agreed to help us out with the review. The reason it took so long is that the first reviewer refused to give the sample up to the second reviewer because it worked so well! I gave them each another swaddling blanket that I had when my son was newborn so they’d have a comparison.
The comments on the ‘other blanket’ were 100% negative. “The velcro doesn’t stick.” “The velcro isn’t in the right place so I can’t get it tight enough.” “Baby’s arms are out within minutes.” “It’s pretty, but that’s about it.”
The comments on the Miracle Blanket were, in contrast, 100% positive!
It’s Da Bomb 2007-04-29 12:00:11 Milk Bomb is an awesome online, full-of-snark kids t-shirt shop with an explosive attitude. Owned by snarky dad & designer Steve O’Neil, Milk Bomb is hip to the horrors of pastel & chicks.
The Congratulations, You Get To Sit Near Me tee, available in all sizes from 3 mos - 6T, is a surefire hit for the traveling family. Now that I’ve found this, I’m never getting on a plane with kids without them wearing one. Chances are, if you’re traveling with kids, you’re going to tick off at least one of your fellow passengers. Anyone with even a small semblance of a sense of humour will have a hard time veiling their smile when they see your kid’s shirt.
In honour of tomorrow’s Canadian tax filing deadline, I’m also loving this Our Little Tax Write Off tee. It’s also available in all sizes up to 6T.
[Side note: This is our first year filing with a dependent, and it turns out that in Canada your kids are only a tax write off if y
Good Night. Finally. 2007-05-04 00:00:32 Dr. Michael Breus (Ph.D. sleep specialist, not MD - just to clarify) has written a great book called GOOD NIGHT: The Sleep Doctor’s 4 Week Program to Better Sleep & Better Health. When we were given the opportunity to review it, I jumped on it because my husband is a crappy sleeper. Great guy, crappy sleeper.
While, after two months, we still haven’t made it all the way through the four week program (something always comes up - like hockey playoffs) we have implemented a lot of it and the things he suggests really do work. He takes the science and “dumbs it down” into an easily understandable guide that addresses pretty much any question you may have, from how to arrange your bedroom to what to eat & when to exercise.
Whether you’re an insomniac or not, I would recommend this book to you if you want to improve your sleep. It’s NOT intended for parents of kids with newborns. Dr. Breus admits that parents of newborns should really just get Read more:Night
, Finally
When Mama Needs to Bottle Feed 2007-05-03 20:00:46 No matter how you feel about bottles & babies, sometimes it’s the mom who needs a little time to herself via a scrumptious bottle of Pinot Noir. While I’ve never subscribed to the ‘pump & dump’ method myself (because I haven’t had more than half a drink at a time in nearly two years), I know lots of moms who ditch their liquid gold for fear of feeding their baby spiked milk. There are lots of reasons why any alcohol in breast milk is not a good thing for your baby.
There’s a cool new product on the market that takes the questions out of nursing after drinking. Milkscreen was invented by moms Julie Jumonville and Elizabeth Smith to ease their own minds and the minds of other mothers.
The stick looks a little like a pregnancy test with a small pad at one end. You simply put a few drops of breastmilk on the pad, wait 2 minutes and if there’s a colour change your milk has alcohol in it. A few of us put Milkscreen to the test and it d Read more:Needs
Okki Baby 2007-05-03 12:00:05 Okki Baby is the brain child of mom Laura Simmons. With her background in marketing & love of design, she has created some adorable & whimsical designs that capture the essence of her tagline - celebrating every child.
Know an adorable little boy that can’t stay clean for more than ten minutes? ‘I Make Dirt Look Good’ might be just the thing. And what about the little girl who has it all? Buy her this and present it with a knowing smile.
I’m also loving the birthday tees for boys & girls - perfect for the annual photo op and for the party. (Be sure to invest in a good bib for when the chocolate cake comes out - these shirts are high quality and they’ll last through several kids if you can keep ‘em clean!)
Need a unique gift? The tee & bib gift sets in 0-3 months are perfect. There’s not a parent anywhere who wouldn’t swoon over the ‘brand spanking new‘ onesie on their little newbie.
Each design is n
Giggles Bibs 2007-05-02 20:00:49 The funky & fab Giggles
Bibs were founded by mom Jamie Hunt in 2004. She combined her love of sewing and her need for an easy to clean bib and came up with these great creations.
Giggles Bibs are made of plastic with a food-catching (and drool catching) pocket and a velcro closure. They’re machine washable, can be thrown in the dishwasher or simply wiped clean. She currently has 18 styles and you choose the edging colour. Jaime custom makes the bibs to order and Giggles Bibs are available at 44 locations throughout the United States,Canada, and Australia, as well as online.
Mention TOP & get FREE SHIPPING on your Giggles Bibs when you order from the website.
You’ll find Giggles Bibs in our TOP Shops, where we feature exclusive permanent discounts for TOP readers like you!
We’ve got two great Giggles Bibs (confetti & Japanese goldfish over blue rain) to give away. To be entered in the random draw for one of these great bibs (there will be two winners
Mother-Ease 2007-05-02 12:00:47 Lots of crunchy, semi-crunchy and wanna-be crunchy parents choose to use cloth diapers. What used to be the norm is now viewed by some as too much work & too much mess. I can tell you definitively that it’s not much work, and if you’ve got too much mess you’re either not doing it right or you’ve got the wrong diapers.
I’ve always been an all-in-one girl (the lazy way to protect the environment) but I’ve been testing out Mother-Ease diapers & covers for the last month. Honestly, I always thought covers would be a huge pain in the you know what, but they’re not.
The Sandy’s diapers have lots of elastic at the legs & back of the waist and they fit like a dream - even on my skinny mini kid. They’re amazingly absorbent. Even after several hours (oops!) the outside of the diaper was not wet. These are my favourite cloth diaper ever. I’ve never had a leak - ever! (And, sadly, my way-too-expensive all in ones f
Keeping Legs Where They Should Be 2007-05-06 12:00:59 Our son has been sleeping in a sleep sack since birth. They’re fabulous, and I highly recommend them. But there was a point around 8 or 9 months old when he’d wake up screaming every night with both his legs trapped in one leg of his pajamas and/or his sleep sack so twisted up that he couldn’t move. I won’t put a blanket in his crib with him - not only because it’s risky but he’d never keep it on anyway.
I wish I had found Blankeaze a few months earlier.
The newest product from 2 Virtues, Blankeaze is a wearable fleece blanket made specifically for active sleepers. It’s a wearable blanket with leg holes that is worn over pajamas. It can’t be kicked off, pulled off and, unlike sleep sacks, Blankeaze won’t twist around even the most active sleeper. (And if it would twist, my little mix-master would do it so I assure you - it doesn’t.) It zips up in either the front or the back, depending on your preference, and the bottom
Sweat-Free Summer Swaddling 2007-05-05 12:00:49 Most new parents are in the loop about swaddling. For many kids, it’s a necessity. That is - if you like to sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time. I know do.
It’s time to put those oversize flannel receiving blankets away. With summer coming up and new babies being born every minute (or so it seems), those little bundles need to be swaddled in something that doesn’t make them sweat. Like these awesome muslin baby wraps from Aden + Anais. These won’t be news to our Aussie readers, but here in the great white north they’re a novelty that needs to become the standard.
Founded by two Aussie moms who couldn’t find these delightful wraps in the US when they were having their babies, Aden + Anais wraps are a necessity for anyone with a new baby. They’re large enough to swaddle a big 3 month old easily, are lightweight & airy and they get softer with every wash. The material has a natural stretchy quality so it’s super easy to get Read more:Sweat
, Summer
Walking Wings 2007-05-04 20:00:54 Being the mom of a toddler learning to walk is a blast, but it kills my back. Being hunched over all day long so that he doesn’t have to walk with his arms in the air makes my back scream. And I’m sure that’s nothing compared to my foot-taller-than-me husband.
Enter WalkingWings
- a cool mom-invented product that has saved my back. The support vest easily fastens with velcro around the baby’s chest and has two adjustable straps with detachable padded handles. It looks a little goofy, but it works. It took my son a few tries to tolerate having it on but once he got used to it he didn’t seem to notice it.
Walking Wings are great for increasing the confidence of the new walker. Not only are they able to use their arms in a natural position but when they do, inevitably, fall, the straps catch them (which has to feel better than having your arms yanked out of their sockets). I appreciate the worry-free practice time out on the sidewalk, and we all appr
Protect those baby blues. And browns. And greens. 2007-05-04 12:00:42 Summer is fast approaching and it’s the time of year when we start to apply sunscreen to our little ones to protect their delicate skin. But what about their eyes? They’re irreplaceable, and they can get sunburned too. In fact, according to the FRUBI SHADES site, “The human eye is ten times more sensitive to harmful UV rays than your skin. The lens of a child allows 70% more UV rays to reach the delicate retina than in an adult. Approximately half of the entire time we spend outdoors in our lifetime occurs in the first twenty years of our life.” Armed with that knowledge, we should all be picking up a pair or three of Frubi Shades!
Designed to fit kids from 6 months to 6 years of age (with a version for older kids coming soon) they’re made of a non-toxic, spongy, form fitting material that’s molded into one comfortable piece. (And I knew they were comfortable when my son actually forgot they were on!) They were originally invented to prevent ea Read more:Protect
Ring Bling 2007-05-08 20:00:52 As a new-ish mom, it’s been a while since I’ve carried a real purse. Everything gets tossed in my diaper bag and I just hope to be able to find something when I need it. The one item I consistently need and can never find is my cell phone. (Yes, I’m an addict. Admit it - you are too.)
The Bead Shop from Fashion Angels Enterprises makes these fabulous Ziplettes mini-purses that are perfect for my cell phone. (Actually, I need three because it’s also perfect for my iPod and as a grab n’ go credit card & lipstick holder.)
Ziplettes are available in 16 styles from white to black and everything in between. They’re a pretty cool concept - the Ziplette can be unzipped as much or as little as you need to store your stuff. If you unzip it all the way, it’s a super long zipper sewn into a coil (fascinating for even the coolest kids & parents!) The sequins & other funky trims are sewn in between the zippers so the zipping action is to Read more:Bling
Need a lift? (If you’re 2-4 feet tall, the answer is yes.) 2007-05-08 12:00:05 The Learning Tower from Little Partners Inc. is an indispensable piece of furniture once you’ve tried it. You know the type - one you may not have thought to purchase for yourself but once you have it you don’t know how you lived without it.
Kids love to help in the kitchen. Little boys and girls learn invaluable skills by helping an adult prepare meals, do crafts and bake treats, and it’s a lot easier if they can reach the counter with no fear of falling off that rickety old step stool. (For the sake of future wives everywhere, please PLEASE bring the boys in there too! And maybe they can use it to clean the bathroom?) There’s great joy to be found in cooking with kids, but there’s also great frustration and many tears (not just the kids) if you don’t have the right equipment.
The Learning Tower is so much more than a step stool. Designed for children ages two to six, the platform can be lowered as children grow to enable children at any stag Read more:answer
Speckles & Weeds - Finally Honest Stationary 2007-05-07 12:00:42 I’ve always loved buying baby gifts and hated buying the accompanying cards. There’s always some cheesy saying and a rather uninspiring creepy cartoon baby.
Now that I’ve discovered the new Canadian company Speckles & Weeds
, however, I can hardly wait for the next opportunity to give new parents a card. (It’ll accompany a gift, of course.)
These cheeky and oh-so-true motherhood cards are the perfect way to express your joy and welcome another woman into the wonderful world of motherhood while not pretending it’s all pastel bubbles & butterfly kisses.
Like my personal favourites pictured here, A newborn baby’s head smells sweet. Yours, however, is oddly reminiscent of an armpit and Welcome to motherhood. Luxury has been redefined. All of the Speckles & Weeds motherhood cards ring true. From snarky to hilarious, there’s sure to be one for the moms on your list. Come on, be a good friend. Don’t subject them to the cartoo Read more:Finally
, Stationary
Teaching Good Manners With Crafts! 2007-05-10 20:00:48 It always ticks me off when we buy a child a gift and never hear from them. There’s nothing better than a good old fashioned thank-you note to make me buy them an even better present the next time. I fear it’s becoming a lost art - not only for children, but for adults as well.
I am loving the Make-Your-Own Thank You Notes kit from Made by Hands, a great company owned by Chicago moms Dena Hirschberg & Ava Berry. They’ve created a large selection of timeless art activity kits that are fun, packed with supplies and allow for endless creative possibilities.
The Make-Your-Own Thank You Notes kit (so new it’s not even available on their website yet) contains 15 cards & envelopes, over 600 pop out shapes, a glue stick and a cute book with great examples of when & how to make thank-you cards and ideas for “thoughtful thoughts.”
If we all do our part to teach them graciousness while they’re young, perhaps women who don’t sen Read more:Manners
, Crafts
Healthy Mother, Healthy Child 2007-05-10 12:00:55 Welcome to today’s stop on the Mother-Talk blog book tour for Healthy Mother, Healthy Child by Elizabeth Irvine.
Beth is a mother, a nurse and a yoga instructor (and apparently a Catholic, which seems a little out of place in this book, but whatever) and she integrates her experience in all of those areas to bring us Healthy Mother, Healthy Child. The subtitle of the book is ‘Creating Balance in Everyday Life’ and really, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Two months pregnant and parenting a barely one year old, having to go back to work full time to earn a maternity leave (25% of my salary, but anything helps), running several websites, having a dad with cancer, a husband who doesn’t cook (but does everything else - bless him) I’m in serious need of a little balance around here.
The book is lovely. It’s full of lovely relaxing photos of mother & children meditating and practicing yoga. It goes through the basics, from the asanas (
Don’t Feed Kids Junk Music 2007-05-09 20:00:26 Bingo Records has hit the nail right square on the head. Founders and fathers Ric Cohen & Michael Silver (recording industry lawyers in their former life) were as sick as the rest of us of ’silly songs’ and decided to do something about it. Kids love to hear other kids singing - even if adults don’t. Bingo Records has produced an awesome set of CD’s sung by kids that the whole family will love.
Their “Raise Them On The Classics” series includes two Beatles Hits for Kids CD’s (volumes 1 and 2) which are both truly fabulous. I love the Beatles and, though these CD’s are mixed for & sung by kids and definitely have a sound that’s appealing to little ones, they’re so reminiscent of the true classics that I tuned them out - in a good way - and forgot we were listening to kids’ music. The Motown Hits for Kids CD is simply awesome as well. It reminded me of the music that played in my house as a kid and has an inc Read more:Music
Anything that keeps kids quiet in the car is alright by me. 2007-05-09 12:00:48 Planning some summer travel?
Whether long or short, car trips can be the bane of your existence (”When will we geeeet theeeere?”) or, if you plan right, they can be the making of some great memories.
The Four Peas Mini Sports Fan Activity Pack from Mom4Life is a great addition to your vehicle.
Intended for children aged three and up, this way cool activity pack comes in a cool plastic case with easy to use sliders and a convenient handle for carrying. The kit includes a pad of coloured paper, an activity pad, silly putty, crayons, make-a-race car sticker sheet, assorted stickers, a mini porcupine ball, a pull back race car, a notepad, a squishy frog, and magic springs. Enough to keep even the most hard-to-entertain kid busy for a few hours. (The “Girly Girl” kit is similar but includes different ‘girly’ stickers, a bracelet, a stamper & linking shapes instead of the stereotypical boy-ish goods.)
Once your child has used all of the goodies t Read more:keeps
Go Figure! 2007-05-14 20:00:17 There’s something about blinking noisy plastic toys that makes me cringe. My home is full of them, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’m always excited when I come across a toy or game that makes kids actually use their imagination in order to use it. You know…good old fashioned play.
Go Figure! shape-making cards from Made By Hands are for kids aged 4 and up and they do just that. Available in three themes, each game comes with a set of over 150 pop-out shape cards that players take turns putting together in order to make an image that their opponent recognizes as something other than a pile of shapes. The creativity that blooms when kids play these imaginative games is amazing and is sure to bring forth rambunctious laughter. I’m especially loving the Crazzzy Critters set. When was the last time you saw a six-legged, two-tailed, three-headed, dinosaur eating llama with a mane?
Each set is only $11.99 and can be used for more than just th
Save the animals, Save the world. 2007-05-14 12:00:22 Kids today learn about the steps we can take to protect the earth from a very young age. The Matter Group has taken eco-learning to the next level with their great award winning two-player collectible XEKO eco-adventure trading card games.
The first edition, Mission Madagascar was a huge hit with eco-kids everywhere. In the second & newest edition, Mission Costa Rica, kids learn about some amazing animals, explore the principles of bio-diversity and go on a virtual adventure through the 12 distinct ecosystems of Costa Rica.
Each player has a deck of cards and each card is either a species of animal, a power-up “Boost” card or a special XEKO card. The endangered species wage “turf wars” against each other that mimic real-life nature drama. A turf war is won when one player lays down a more viable ecosystem than the other. When one player runs out of cards both players add up their Eco-Points, plus some bonus points, and the highest score wins the game!
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