Zoobie Pets are an innovative new three in one plush character that kids will love. They’re a blanket, pillow and plush animal all rolled into one. Voted Toy of the Year by Creative Child’s Magazine and recently received he Oppenheim Gold Award.

What’s The Cost: Under $30.00

I recently had the privilege to review one of these wonderful plush pets. My oldest son decided that he wanted Kojo the Croc, which you see pictured to the left. First of all I’m not a big fan of crocodiles and Zoobie pets come in a large variety of other safari animals such as a lion, zebra, cheetah, etc., so I was a little saddened that he chose the croc.

Kojo arrived today and I was eager to see what these new plush pets are all about. Kojo is actually really cute, even for a crocodile. When I first took him out of his package I was amazed at how soft he was.

A Zoobie Pet is a three in one plush animal that has three functions.

1. Zoobie pets can be carried around by your youngsters as the adorable plush animals that they are.

2. A few quick releases of two velco tabs can turn your pet into a very soft pillow.

3. A quick zip reviews a generous size, extra soft, blanket that your kids will love to snuggle with. The best part is that these blankets can easily be removed by a zipper for washing in the washer.

Overall, I am very happy with this product and they make great traveling buddies for your kids. They’re safe for children and are so soft and squishy that I don’t think any child would be disappointed with one of these little guys.

Where to buy: Zoobie Pets

Lencho the Loin Zoobie Pet

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Baby Tama the Turtle

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Bing the Bumblebee (Zoobie)

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Baby Hadda the Hippo

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Zoobie Pets Calyx the Caterpillar New Collection 2009

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Your baby needs to be safe ALL THE TIME, and the car is no exception. You need to make sure you have the proper car seat for your child, and it MUST be installed properly. This is very important to protect your child in case of an accident.

When you leave the hospital they will make sure you have a car seat for your child, and may even check to make sure it is properly installed in the car. You have a variety to choose from.

Infant Car Seat

The newest style of baby car seat has a base that is buckled in the car and stays there. The carrier itself clicks in and out of the base in the car. This makes it easier to get the child in and out of the car without having to fiddle with a seatbelt every time. With this type of car seat you can leave the baby in the carrier and take the whole carrier into the store or house with you. This is especially helpful with newborns. As the child gets older you may choose to take the child out of the carrier and leave the carrier in the car.

Here are some top Baby Car Seats:
Britax First Class SI Car Seat-Candy Hearts 2008 (0-4yrs)
Chicco Auto-Fix Plus Car Seat-Fuego 2008 + FREE Base
Britax First Class SI Car Seat-Candy Hearts 2008 (0-4yrs)
Chicco Auto-Fix Plus Car Seat-Fuego 2008 + FREE Base
Britax First Class SI Car Seat-Candy Hearts 2008 (0-4yrs)
Chicco Auto-Fix Plus Car Seat-Fuego 2008 + FREE Base
Britax First Class SI Car Seat-Candy Hearts 2008 (0-4yrs)
Chicco Auto-Fix Plus Car Seat-Fuego 2008 + FREE Base

Visit our store: Britax Explora Isofix Ultra-Red 2008 (9mth-4yrs)

Convertible Car Seat

Next you will need a convertible car seat. This car seat is used once the baby is one year old and meets the height and weight requirements. Convertible car seats may be placed in a forward or backward facing position. The seat will need to be facing backward if your child outgrows his infant seat, but is not yet old enough to sit facing forward.

When choosing a convertible car seat you have many options. First you can choose if it has the five point harness, or if it has and over the head latch. You can also choose the color and it may even come with a cup holder. No matter which type of convertible car seat you choose, it can be used until your child weighs 40 pounds.

Booster Seat
After a convertible car seat you will need a booster seat. The booster seat can be used until your child weighs 80 pounds. There are different types of booster seats. The first type is a small base that the child sits in, which allows them to use a regular seatbelt. The other kind may be a convertible seat that is also a booster seat. When the child outgrows the convertible seat, you take the straps off and use the regular seat belt instead. The child is still seated in the actual car seat, just with different straps.

Here are some booster seats:
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Booster Seat-Disney Pixar Cars
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Booster Seat-Disney Pixar Cars
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Booster Seat-Disney Pixar Cars
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Booster Seat-Disney Pixar Cars
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Booster Seat-Disney Pixar Cars

Visit our store: Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Booster Seat-Disney Princess

Just remember that no matter what type of car seat you use it is for your child’s safety. The child always needs to be seated in the back seat until they are 12 due to the air bags. Make sure you take the time to buckle the seat and your child in properly to insure they are safe.

photo credit: paulhami

Review: I purchased this online a month ago and I think its great and it has probably been our best purchase so far.  My son has loved being in this and has spent more time asleep in this than in his cradle.

I love the fact that we will be able to still use it when he’s older too, so I think its great value for money.  I also prefer to use this chair for when I am feeding him as he seems to feed better in this than with his high chair, I think he prefers being lower down.  I would definitely recommend this rocker to friends. Great for when he sleeps, for rocking, feeding….everything.

Where to Purchase: Fisher-Price Newborn-To-Toddler Rocker

This little device takes all the shouting, arguing and frustration out of disciplining your children.  Invented by parents who have been there (and what parent hasn’t been to the point all they know to do is yell) this technique has worked wonders for their family and many other alike.

Discipline is a necessity in any home with children. How we do this can be the actual root of the problem.  It seems like every time I turn around I have to holler at my children for some reason.  The next thing I know we are in an argument that never seems to be solved.  The yelling and stomping off is more than I could take.

This little wheel made a difference for us right from the beginning.  I placed it on the family room wall for all to see.  At first everyone bulked at it but once they realized it was also filed with some humor they began to check it out.

There are no charts, books or manuals with this wheel.  It’s just the wheel, a spinner, 48 consequences and 16 rewards.  You and your children decide what to place on the wheel together.  When they break a rule they spin the wheel to see exactly what their consequence will be.  If they are well behaved then they can spin the wheel to see what reward they have earned.

It’s pretty easy and a very simple idea.  It shows your children that they are in charge of their destiny if they don’t behave.  It also teaches them that good things come to those who behave well and follow the rules.

I really like this idea and the simplicity of it all.  There is no more screaming, stomping around or feeling like I’m the bad guy day in and day out.  The kids even enjoy it for the most part.  If nothing else the stress level in our house has decreased so much that we all seem much happier.  I’m proud to say I have some pretty well behaved children under my roof now.  Thanks to the Better Beahvior Wheel for giving my children and I the opportunity to experience that.

Where to purchase: Better Behavior System

I was excited to try out this latest PC software from Knowledge Adventure with my two boys, ages 3 and 6.

I pulled out my laptop, installed it with ease and before I knew it we were inside the Preschool World where my sons were welcomed by cute furry friends, music and of course an entire environment filled with activities and games.

The first thing I noticed and liked about this software was the ability to create different characters for each child. They had the chance to select clothes, hair color, eye color, etc. to match how they felt they looked and with this ability my boys were able to create their own accounts to come back to at a later date, thus saving what they had done each time they visited the Playschool World.

Some of the things that your child will learn in this edition are early math skills, colors, shapes and patterns, music, social studies, pre-reading, some thinking skills which include problem solving, sorting, following directions and sorting.

This very colorful world made it a fun place to visit and the best part is they weren’t even aware that they were actually “learning”. This was a big plus with me because my three year old has had a very short attention span with other methods of learning tactics that I’ve tried, but this “cartoon” like environment kept him glued to the screen and he was eager to complete the games and activities.

Although the program is intended for children ages 3 to 5, my 6 year old really enjoyed himself. He is beyond the things that are tought in this program but it didn’t stop him from finishing it until the end. Now he is asking me to buy him a 1st grade version just for him.

If you’ve been thinking about trying out a PC based learning program for your child, then I highly recommend this software.

Where to Buy: JumpStart Advanced Premium Preschool

photo credit: 416style

Protection from the sun is important, but so is knowing what types of things to avoid in commercial sunscreens. Remember, our skin is our largest organ and anything absorbed into the skin can be transported to other organs in our body in about 7 seconds. In recognition of that fact, try to avoid the following common sunscreen ingredients:

PABA: Many people are very sensitive to this ingredient and can end up with red, itchy skin.

Benzophenone (benzophenone-3), homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate): These chemicals have shown estrogenic activity in lab tests. Oxybenzone is a derivative of benzophenone and it is linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. According to the CDC 97% of Americans are contaminated with this widely-used sunscreen ingredient.

Parabens (butyl-, ethyl-, methyl-, and propyl-): Parabens are common in sunscreens so avoiding them may prove difficult. They are preservatives that have estrogenic qualities. They have produced abnormal hormonal effects following on laboratory rodents, particularly male, resulting in decreased testosterone levels and other abnormalities. They have also been found to accumulate in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer.

Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 (Avobenzone): While on the surface of the skin these chemicals appear to prevent UV damage but when absorbed into the skin they can actually damage DNA. There is evidence that the sun’s light may cause these chemicals to become reactive and cause free-radical damage.

Safe sunscreen components include any zinc oxide or titanium dioxide products that scatter, rather than absorb the sun’s rays. In addition, you can use protective sun clothing to keep your skin shielded when you are planning to be outside. Hats, sunglasses and UVA/UVB repellant swimwear are widely available and provide the safest protection for kids and adults alike.

To combat those pesky mosquitoes and other biting insects, we need to once again, examine what it is that we are using on our skin. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests the use of “non-chemical” methods to deter biting insects before any consideration of chemical insect repellents.

Most bug sprays and repellents contain DEET. DEET is a pesticide that is considered HIGHLY toxic. Experts report that up to 56% of DEET applied to the skin penetrates the skin and about 17% is absorbed into the blood stream.

One of the major adverse effects of DEET exposure to children is seizures and brain damage. As parents, it is wise to utilize caution, care and knowledge in your approach to protecting your children from dangerous insect bites.

Consider using barriers like window screens and netting to shield your children and protect their skin with long-sleeve shirts, long pants and socks. Other commercial products with safe and effective ingredients are:

MiEnviron Certified Organic Personal Bug Spray

SmartShield

California Baby SPF 30 + Bug Repellent

Now that warmer weather is here, families can spend time together enjoying being outside. If we can do a little bit of label reading before purchasing some of the summer necessities, it will be a safer and “greener” season for everyone!

Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues. You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

Oh the dreaded potty training. Most of us have been there or are about to set out on this wonderful adventure. If you’re like me you need all the help you can get. This program can be that needed help.

I have come to learn that potty training your toddler doesn’t have to be a nightmare. This system showed me how to do that with very little frustration on both our parts. By following the guide given your child can be potty trained in little or no time.

I really felt if my child were potty trained by the age of 2 we would be doing great. Of course he had other ideas. I read that it was best to teach your child about using a real potty then allow them to let you know when they were ready. This just lead to a lot of pulled off diapers and messes I had to clean up. I became very frustrated and stressed out, which in turn put my toddler in the same mood.

When I set out on a hunt to find something that would help me with this endeavor I found this ebook. I was reluctant to try it but then saw it had a money back guarantee. What did I to lose nothing else had worked so far.

Using the step-by-step guide that is offered in both the ebook and audio I was able to begin training my child right away. We had results very quickly and I was amazed. I never thought it could be this easy.

The audio interview is with a doctor who knows his stuff. He explains how to help your child in a step-by-step program that works. You feel confident that you’re doing the right things the minute you start the program. My child is now potty trained (after only 3 days) and I don’t have to worry about buying those expensive diapers anymore. Best of all I don’t have to worry about cleaning up the mess or trying to figure out how to keep my furniture and floors safe, let alone my child.

If you’re potty training and feel like there’s no hope try this program. It worked for my child and I bet it can help you too. With the money back guarantee how can you lose?

Where to Buy: Potty Training System

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

Stuffed animals that your child can stuff themselves with cute little outfits to go along with your child’s hobbies.

When the postman came to our house my soon to be 4 year old son was so excited. He loves it when mommy gets prizes in the mail. Well little did he know that he would be getting a prize himself today.

We took the package into the kitchen and opened it up. When he saw the bear that came out of the box he started jumping for joy! He grabbed it out of my hand and opened up the bag that the stuffing was in. I had to make him wait a minute so I could find the little star that comes with the bear for him to make a wish on.

I told him to kiss the star and place it in the bear. He did and then started stuffing the bear so fast I had to stop him long enough to evenly distribute the stuffing lol.

It was so easy for Adam to stuff this bear. A cute shirt came with the bear and Adam proceeded to dress the bear and he immediately walked out of the room, I didn’t know why until he came walking back into the room with a little wool cap that he wanted his bear to wear.

And I am not making this up, he would not go to bed without his new bear friend last night. He hasn’t named it yet but once he tells me I will fill out the “birth certificate” that came with the bear.

If you are looking for something that your child will love and can feel it’s all their own, I recommend buying them a Noah’s ark stuffed friend. The look on Adam’s face as he was stuffing the bear and dressing him was priceless.

Where To Buy: Noah’s Ark Workshop

Submitted By: Rebecca White; Sylvania, OH

The Edge Cushion by Kid Cushions provides a soft protecting layer of material between your child and hard or sharp edges of your furniture.

Measuring twelve feet, this cushion will wrap around almost anything with an edge perfectly, round or square. These cannot be used on beveled tables. This product can be used on countertops, window ledges and cabinets to name a few. The cushions are available in 3 colors, black, brown and ivory. They are easy to attach with adhesive strips that will connect to any of the types of surfaces in your home including tile.

No parent can stand to see their children crying, whether a cut lip or a bumped knee, it can be just as painful for the parent to watch their child experience these feelings. But children will bump and they will scrape. It’s part of the growing and learning process, which helps them survive their grown up lives. You can do your part though to prevent these bumps and bruises from happening often or possibly being severe which should be a #1 priority in a household with a young child.

Cons: This Item could have been made available in more colors.

Where to Buy: BLACK Edge Cushion Padding, 1 x 1 in., 12 Ft. Length

Submitted by: Megan Cahill; Louisville, KY

This is a training potty that sings to your child when used. It has the ability to be used as a step stool for those hard to reach places like the sink. It includes a removable bucket for easy clean up and the seat can be used on the large toilet as your child’s ability grows.

Training a toddler to use the potty can be a very trying time for both child and parent. A training potty that will entice your toddler and is also versatile is a welcome help. The Royal Step Potty is right up that alley.

This cute potty is made to look like a throne. Made with durable plastic and bright colors this potty will have your child using the potty in no time.

When my grandson decided that he liked the idea of using this potty we were so excited. The first time he used it and it played music he wanted to go back and use it over and over. The idea that he is the King of the bathroom made him laugh.

The bucket is easy to remove and clean. I found this to be wonderful. With my children you had to work at getting the bucket out to clean and this made for some really big messes. Being able to do this quickly and easily makes my life easier too.

The idea of a step stool is great. Once he uses the potty he can put the lid down and step up to the sink. Washing his hands after each use is very important and makes it easier for both him and his mom and I. He loves washing his hands and it has become a habit for him. The fact that it’s made of durable plastic makes me feel better when he does stand on the step stool.

We haven’t tried the removable seat on the big toilet yet. I do like this idea because when it comes time he can take a part of something he feels comfortable with to use in public places or family and friend’s homes. Using the big potty always scared my children but having something you know helps to ease that fear and makes the child anxious to move ahead in their training.

Fisher Price is a name people have trusted for years and once again they have come through. If you’re trying to potty train your toddler try this potty seat. You’ll love it and the future King or Queen of the house will too!

Where To Buy: Fisher-Price Royal Potty Step Stool