Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Frolicking Frog Pull Toy

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Retail Price: $19.99

Amazon Price: $15.90

Wooden Toys
Look for wooden toys made in the U.S.—or European countries, since many have strict safety standards—out of natural, sustainable wood and non-toxic paints. (Check to make sure natural paints were used.) Wooden toys eliminate waste since they’re fully recyclable and are more durable than chemical-laden plastic.

NUBY BPA FREE 2 Handle 8oz. Cup / Flip-It Straw Top, Boy Colors

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Retail Price: Varies based on product options

Amazon Price: $6.99

BPA-Free Bottles and Sippy Cups
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been getting a lot of heat. Claimed to increase the risk of certain cancers, the chemical BPA is found in some bottles, sippy cups and pacifiers. The good news is that BPA-free alternatives are now easy to find and clearly labeled. Why take a chance with a controversial chemical when you can easily buy a BPA-free alternative? These can be found in big name retail stores or online.

Natural Remedies
No one enjoys teething. When pearly whites start poking through baby’s mouth, parents scramble for a remedy—any remedy. Instead of buying conventional teething gel, which often contains artificial food coloring and other artificial ingredients, go natural. Consider buying (or putting on your wish list) a baby necklace made from Baltic amber, a natural anesthetic. When your child sweats, Baltic amber releases healing oils that are absorbed into the skin and provide natural teething relief. Take note that the necklaces are meant to be worn, not put in the mouth. You can also find homeopathic remedies for colic, teething, gas and earaches in some specialty and big name stores.

Baltic amber is fossilized tree resin. It contains high levels of succinic acid, considered by some to have healing properties. Specifically, succinic acid may have analgesic properties. When worn as a necklace or bracelet, the skin’s body heat wicks tiny amounts of healing oils from the amber. These succinic acid-containing oils are absorbed into the skin and help relieve pain.

Baltic amber necklaces come in many different sizes. Just make sure your baby’s isn’t too big or too tight. Teething necklaces aren’t to be chewed on or put in the mouth. They’re simply worn on the skin.

You can find baby Baltic amber teething necklaces at online retailers. Whether they’re effective in relieving pain or not is something for you to decide. Many people have had luck using Baltic amber to treat everything from migraines to menstrual cramps; carpal tunnel syndrome to back pain. These claims have not been scientifically validated but keep in mind people have been using Baltic amber as a traditional remedy for centuries.

Another benefit of Baltic amber is that, hey, it’s pretty and your baby will look super cute wearing an amber necklace.

Do you have any experiences using Baltic amber? If so, we’d love to hear it.

photo credit: david owen

As awful as it is, it’s imperative to put yourself in your baby’s shoes (or booties). Teething has to hurt. But that doesn’t mean you can’t offer your baby some relief.

There are many teething remedies on the market (and at home). Needless to say, some will work better than others.

There’s the usual ibuprofen and acetaminophen you can give your baby. We all know what these medications are—they relieve pain and, in my experience, are pretty effective. These two meds come in a few different forms, so make sure you follow the specific recommended dosages listed on the package.

Homeopathy is another teething relief option. Working with the premise “like cures like,” homeopathic remedies contain miniscule amounts of a substance that in larger amounts would cause the condition you’re trying to heal (in this case tooth pain). These remedies are gentle and recommended by many parents.

Of course, there are also homemade remedies for teething. Many parents swear by letting their baby chomp on a frozen wash cloth or by brushing their child’s gums with a tooth brush (no toothpaste).

Whatever you do, let’s hope your baby—and you—find relief ASAP.

photo credit: nateOne

In his book, Karp compares toddlers to little Neanderthal cave-people, explaining that they’re prone to being selfish, needy and are the spitting image of Bam-Bam from The Flintstones. Toddlers are in the process of evolving from uncivilized cave-people to (somewhat) civilized children. In other words, they’re seemingly annoying behaviors are completely normal and to be expected.

But how do we deal with them? Karp advises talking in “Toddler-ese,” a way of talking using very short phrases and repetition, during a tantrum. At the same time, he says to repeat what your child wants (even if he can’t have it). For instance, if your kiddo wants a cookie but you want her to eat dinner, say, “Cookie? Cookie? You want cookie? Now? Cookie?” Talk reflecting 1/3 of your child’s emotions. In theory, your child is supposed to see that you “get it”—that her attempts at communication are paying off, even if you’re not giving in. When she calms down, you tell her, “No, no cookie. Dinner first.” And then distract her or offer her a compromise.

I started using this technique on my son. He wanted to stay outside and play but I wanted him to come in for a diaper change. As he was screaming to stay outside, I said in a rushed, anxious voice, “You’re mad! Mad! Mad, mad, mad! You want to play outside!”

He didn’t calm down. He just got more red in the face. Now, I’m not saying this disproves Karp’s theory. Hardly! Maybe I just have to perfect my Toddler-ease and be less self-conscious of myself.

So, what do you think? Does Karp’s theory work? Does anything calm tantrums or are they just par for the course?

The Happiest Toddler on the Block, Vol. 1

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Retail Price: $25.95

Amazon Price: $24.99

“This is the golden age of baby/toddler-hood,” I thought.

But then my son started to change.

His easy-going demeanor became downright mean. He started to bite, kick and scream when he didn’t get his way. He became the lil’ dictator of the house; 30 inches and 26 pounds of fury and want.

Now, I’m not saying my son is a monster. Nope. He’s a toddler, in the purest sense of the word.

Parents, I’m sure you’ve all been there—the moment your baby disappeared. I mean, my child is still here, but he’s no longer an infant. And with this blossoming toddler comes a whole new set of rules to learn. Just when I had the whole baby thing figured out, I need to read up on how to handle tantrums, discipline and how to avoid being bit and hit.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share about raising toddlers? Or would you like to share your feelings and experiences about watching your child transform from babyhood?

- Don’t under-price. In fact, don’t overprice, either. For clothing, it’s best to create two piles for pricing—one for generic brands and one for brand-name clothing. Obviously, price the brand-name clothing higher than the generic stuff. Just don’t price everything the same.

- Know all those random little toys you have? Group them up and put them in little baggies with a price. Goodie bags of mixed toys will sell much more easily than separately priced rattles and cars. Do the same thing with socks and hats.

- A general rule is to price an item 10 percent of what you bought it for. If it’s brand new, price it 50 percent of what you originally paid.

- This should be a no-brainer: Don’t put out junk unless you’re giving it away for free. Nobody wants stained baby clothes or battered toys. And as for used pacifiers? Forget it!

- Advertise what you’re selling. Baby clothes sell pretty well at yard sales, so make sure you let everyone know that your sale is the place to buy baby goods. Let people know what kind of baby stuff you have: Do you have an abundance of newborn onesies? Or will you be selling baby carriers? Or are you up to your ears in toddler toys? Be specific and the right buyers will come.

- Head out early to snatch up the best deals and plan ahead where you want to go. Most yard sales start on Fridays and end on Saturdays, but other are weekend-only sales or start on odd days. Be prepared.

- Thoroughly check over products before you buy them. Check clothing for stains and make sure toys aren’t broken or contain chipped paint.

- If you bought baby toys, check online to make sure the product wasn’t recalled.

- Never buy car seats at yard sales. You can never tell if a car seat has been in an accident, rendering it useless and unsafe. Plus, car seat models change all the time and you want to have the latest (and safest) edition rather than some old model.

- Avoid any clothing with drawstrings, zippered bean bags chairs, hairdryers made before 1991 and used pacifiers. Most clothing with drawstrings has been recalled due to strangulation hazards, zippered bean bags chairs contain beads a baby can choke on, old hairdryers don’t contain safety switches and used pacifiers are just gross.

- If you’re interested in a crib, see if the seller has the manufacturer’s name and the crib’s model number, which may be located on the crib itself. Call the manufacturer to make sure the crib wasn’t recalled.

- Negotiate! If you see something you like but the price isn’t right, make an offer. Unless the item is like new, most people are dying to get rid of stuff and will take whatever profit they can get.

Seaside Heights Boardwalk

It may be seedy and crowded, but the Seaside Heights Boardwalk is a must-see, especially in the summer. As the quintessential New Jersey Shore experience, the Seaside Heights Boardwalk is one mile of rides, greasy food, carnival games and fun. There are plenty of rides for kids of all ages at Funtown Pier and Casino Pier and older brave children will love taking a stroll through the Haunted Manor. For a more mellow ride, hop on the world-famous Skyride and take in the view of the beaches below. Or jettison down a waterslide at Jenkinson’s Breakwater Beach Waterpark at Casino Pier. Rest assured that your kids will not go bored here.

Fosterfields Living Historical Farm

Show your children what life was like on a turn-of-the-century farm. The Fosterfields Living Historical Farm isn’t fake—it’s a real farm, but uses horse-drawn plows and other old forms of farming techniques. Watch workers churn butter, hang laundry to dry and collect eggs. Kids can help crack corn, watch cows be milked or feed chickens. This historical farm is located in Morris.

Sahara Sam’s Oasis

If your kids love water, they are sure to “ooh” and “ahh” and go wild over this colossal indoor water park in West Berlin. Sahara Sam’s Oasis features a cargo rope obstacle course, a surfing machine, water basketball court, family raft rides, lazy river, and even an arcade. Don’t forget all the mini-geysers and splash zone for the little ones. As an added bonus, the waterpark uses green technology and has a specialized filtering system to keep the water clean.

Surflight Children’s Theatre

Surflight Theatre brings Broadway—and in this case fairy tales—to the beach. Take your kids to see live plays of their favorite fairy tales. Kids can even meet the actors after the show. The theatre is located at Engleside and Beach Ave. in Beach Haven.

Dorbrook Recreation Area

Dorbrook Recreation Area, located in Colts Neck, has all the makings for a day of total fun. First, there’s the Dorbrook spray park, which features dozens of sprinklers, water buckets, splash areas and a large toddler play area. Toddlers to pre-teens will love run through shoots of water on a hot day. Then, there’s the park itself, which is home to one of the state’s largest (and cleanest) sandboxes. If your kids get bored with water and sand, take them on one of the many walking trails or play on the tennis, soccer or basketball courts. Then have a picnic at one of the shaded picnic areas. And, perhaps best of all, the recreation area is totally free.