March 11, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of Ellaroo Ring Sling Baby Carriers (item numbers 2101 and 2102 printed on the outside of the product box, lot numbers 03/07 and 07/04 printed on a label), manufactured by Ellaroo LLC, of McKinney, Texas.

According to CPSC, “The aluminum rings on the sling carriers can bend or break. This can cause the fabric to slip through the rings and infants to fall out of the carrier.”

The recall affects approximately 1,200 sling units. No injuries have been reported.

If you have a sling carrier affected by the recall, CPSC advises you to immediately discontinue use of the carrier and contact Ellaroo. For further information about this recall, check out the CPSC news release here.

St. Patrick’s Day is less than a week away. If you’re looking for an excuse to go green or need a deadline to jumpstart an eco-friendly lifestyle, give St. Patrick’s day a new purpose. Go Green! Whether going green means recycling that pile of old magazines in your house, stocking the shelves with organic baby food (better yet making your own!), teaching your children about climate change, or shopping for Bispenol-A free baby bottles, use March 17th to motivate change.

What better day to go green, anyway? Even one small lifestyle change can have a huge impact on the world around us–and on the lives of our children and future generations.

What small change will you make next week?

“How long has it been since I last fed the baby?”

If you’ve ever asked yourself this question or any other baby care timing related questions, check out the coolest, must-have baby gadget on the market: ITZBEEN’s Baby Care Timer. You don’t have to be a gadget geek to use ITZBEEN’s Baby Care Timer (but if you are, you’re going to WANT to get your hands on this item!).

Winner of the 2007 iParenting Media Award and awarded the DadLabs.com #2 Dad Invented Product of the Year, ITZBEEN’s Baby Care Timer is the ideal tool for keeping track of everything baby. In addition to reminding you how much time has elapsed since baby last ate or napped, the gadget helps nursing moms remember the side upon which to next feed baby.

Perfect for mom or dad use–especially new, overtired parents who want a simple, push button reminder of the zillion timing details related to having a new baby.

Looking for a fresh approach to handling your toddler?  Harvey Karp, M.D., creator of the Happiest Baby on the Block parenting methodology, might just offer what you seek:  solutions to toddler temper tantrums.  Curious about Dr. Karp’s approach, I picked up a copy of his Happiest Toddler on the Block DVD at my local library.  In the video, Dr. Karp works like a magician, teaching parents how to communicate with their toddlers in a way that lets the toddler (a.k.a. caveperson) know that you hear them–effectively eliminating most temper tantrums. 

Although somewhat silly in parts, the video offers key learning points and provides parents with real solutions (although perhaps slightly embarrassing at first to do in public) to dealing with frustrating toddler behavior.  I’m already having good luck trying these techniques with my toddler.  And, given that Dr. Karp’s approach has been highlighted on Dr. Phil, I’m definitely not the only one who thinks there is potential value in the Happiest Toddler approach.

Here’s a sample YouTube clip, thanks to Parents.com: 

Have you used the The Happiest Toddler on the Block approach? If so, is it working for you and your child?     

March 3, 2008:  Combi USA, Inc. has announced a Voluntary Safety Recall of select Infant Car Seats:  Centre, Centre ARB and Shuttle Rear Facing Infant Restraints (Model numbers:  8065, 8074, 8086, 8087 and 8520 and associated Travel systems containing the Centre and Shuttle Model #4400, 4515, 4520).  Affected units were manufactured from October 19, 2005 to December 15, 2007.   

According to Combi USA, test data conducted by Combi USA, Inc., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada ”revealed that the seat of the restraint could potentially separate from its base.”

No actual instances of seat separation have been reported, but as many as 67,000 units are affected by this recall.   

Combi USA is offering a free retrofit kit to consumers.  For more information about the recall or to learn how to obtain the retrofit kit, check out the press release here.

A couple of years ago, a friend (and mom of three children) introduced me to the MeToo Portable Seat by Phil & Teds.  Finding the seat was a bit harder back then.  I vividly remember dashing store-to-store looking for the seat–now, the seat is available online, like at baby-Wise.com. 

The baby/toddler chair ranks near the top of my personal Best of the Best Baby Gear Purchases.  The MeToo is a practical portable high chair.  Perfect for bringing along to restaurants.  Lightweight, yet rugged, aluminum makes carrying the chair, along with the diaper bag and baby, a breeze.  I especially appreciate the MeToo when I go out to restaurants that prohibit the use of a real high chair at a booth due to fire code (hey, weren’t booths made for families in the first place?).  I simply attach the MeToo to the table within the seated booth area, and voila, my little one is at the same level as the rest of the family.

If you have a small home or need to conserve space, the MeToo is also a good substitute for a traditional high chair.  Some parents even use the MeToo on eat-in kitchen bars or islands.  Relatively speaking, the MeToo Chair is not that expensive given the potential frequency of use.  In my household, the MeToo is used everyday–at breakfast, lunch, dinner, among other times.  Talk about a good value.

If you’re looking for a great gift for expecting parents, or a gift for parents of a young child (the seat is designed for up to 40lbs), the MeToo is the perfect, ultra practical gift.  Given that the seat takes up little space, compared to a bulky, traditional high chair or tray-seat, and uses little packaging, I give the MeToo high marks in the eco-friendly department, too.

Is the MeToo one of your overall best baby purchases?    

I happened to find myself “window shopping” in a super pricey, albeit totally chic, brick and mortar baby store the other day.  I discovered two things (although the first I already knew, but reminders are ALWAYS useful):  (1) you generally get so much MORE bang for the buck when you shop online, and (2) there are some uber cool play baby photo albums (a.k.a. developmental photo toys) on the market.

Wondering why you’d ever give your baby a chewable photo album toy?  Well, for development purposes for starters.  Baby friendly photo albums or toys help baby develop familiarity with the displayed faces.  Baby and Mom (Dad, Grandma or the sitter) will find endless joy in playing “who’s that?” or peek-a-boo–and of course, in watching baby give ”kisses” to her favorite photos.  Photo albums or toys also encourage baby talk and giggles.  Colors, designs, and textures also captivate baby’s interest.

baby-Wise.com has a fabulous selection of baby photo albums, toys and cubes.   

Like this one, the Hello Baby Photo Cube by Sassy ($11.49), which introduces baby to fun noises when photos are pressed.  

And this one, the Whoozit Photo Album by Manhattan Toy ($15.95), which holds 5 4×6 images and has special flaps for peek-a-boo fun.

As I ripped apart a closet today looking through storage totes for a particular item, I came across an envelope of old photos.  By old, I mean…hmm, uh…a lifetime ago…sometime long before kids.  Those photos contained images of a college-aged me. 

Wow, I can’t believe that person is–was–me.  When I think about the then-me, I feel like the same person, just with a lot more life experience.  Me sans a husband or three children.  Sometimes, when I’m stressed out by the zillion things I have to do each day to keep the family ball rolling, I find myself longing for her.  Missing her. 

But, today when I looked at the photos of my younger self, for the first time I realized I didn’t long for her.  Sure, I felt a dose of nostalgia thinking about years past, but it hit me hard that I don’t want to be her–or wear her smile.

You see, as happy as that smile staring back at me in those photos looks, that smile knew nothing about the happiness that comes with motherhood.  She knew nothing about the pains or challenges of birthing babies or raising children.  She didn’t have a clue that in becoming a mother she would actually discover herself along the way.

I couldn’t have had better timing in discovering these photos today, given that a blogger at one of my favorite blogs posted a hilarious bit on “How things Change in 10 Years“–that is, once kids come into the picture!  Would the YOU 10 years ago have envisioned the YOU now sharing a bathroom with ”1,000 brightly-colored bath toys“?

Would you go back 10 years if you could–to a time when your closets weren’t jammed packed with baby & kid stuff?

That’s what my preschooler wants to know.  Now that I think about it, I remember wondering the same thing when I was her age.  Hmm… maybe unicorn curiosity is genetic.  Regardless of where a child’s interest in unicorns originates, my preschooler has discovered an absolutely beautiful book, perfect for pre-K to second graders, on the subject.     

Neil Reed’s The Midnight Unicorn (available at Amazon.com for under $15) is a magical story about unicorns and a girl’s love for them.  Millie, the story’s curious main character, embarks on a memorable adventure with a beloved unicorn statue that comes to life, along with her dog.     The watercolor illustrations look almost like photographs.  The pages feature spot-lamination which gives shine and texture to the illustrations–like illumination to Millie’s hair.  My preschooler loves running her fingers over the pages as I read. 

This book is definitely a bookshelf keeper.  In fact, my preschooler likes the book so much, I wouldn’t be surprised if I wind up buying copies of the book for “girly” birthday party presents–speaking of which, I can’t believe the number of birthday party invites a preschooler receives!

Does your child love unicorns, too?  If so, what are your child’s favorite unicorn books and accessories?