Babies Gotta Have It

Hooray for Baby Dipper Bowls!  I have just been informed that the super cool Baby Dipper feeding bowls I introduced you to back in November of 2008 are now BPA-free, lead-free and phthalate free!  And they come with a spoon and a fork now, too.  Yahoo!

This triangular shaped feeding bowl features transparent sides, a spoon-shaped lower corner, a contoured interior and a non-slip base to make toddler feeding easier and facilitate one-handed feeding for Mamas and Daddies who have their hands full. Watch my blast from the past video for a view of this nifty bowl in action…remember when the Little Bean was that small? The BPA-Free Baby Dipper Feeding Setcan now be found on Amazon.com! Just click here.

p.s. The giveaway mentioned in the video is long over…but keep an eye out for lots more great giveaways on Babies Gotta Have It!

I am Wendy.  And my toddler is a sugar freak.  She comes by it honestly. My mother considers chocolate to be one of the major food groups.  When I was little I used to sneak spoonfuls of confectioners sugar from the box on the lazy susan by the sink.  My little Bean comes from a long line of gals who can handle their sucrose.

I’m not sure that any amount of “organic blah de blah” or “all-natural bibble snobble” can fight this penchant for sweets.  I didn’t give the Bean any refined sugar for a very very long time.  And I still really avoid it.  But that kid can put down a Magnolia cupcake with the best of them.  There’s a part of me that’s a little proud.

And now it’s the holidays.  My mother is “cutting back” on the cookies this year.  Only baking the favorites.  One favorite.  For each of the grown-ups.  That makes eight different kinds of cookies.  Cutting back?  Yeah, the Bean is going to be bouncing off the walls at Granny’s house.

All this to say, oral hygeine is going to be a big part of our December.  If you’re anything like us, you have great intentions of good, thorough toothbrushing and minimal sugar intake…but moderate success.  Fortunately for us, Oral-B is there to offer suggestions, tips and great products to get us through this sweet sweet time.

Check out Oral-B’s website for some really practical Holiday Oral Care Tips for Kids.  This useful page doesn’t deny the fact that at this time of year, your kids are gonna munch on some sweeties.  Instead, it offers guidelines and suggestions for moderating the damage that stuff can do to your wee ones’ smiles.  I love this one: “Dairy acts as a buffer to the acids produced by oral bacteria, decreasing the possibility of tooth decay. So consider serving your children milk or cheese with holiday candies and treats.”  A cookie just isn’t the same without a glass of milk.  For all kinds of reasons, it turns out!

Oral-B offers wonderful guidance for infant and toddler oral care (as well as a neat, new Scrapblog site called Smile-Stages, where you can upload and share photos of your baby beauty’s ever changing smile).  They divide your child’s oral development into “stages” and offer tips for good dental health and appropriate products for each stage.  Honestly, I was using Oral-B toothbrushes and toothpastes for the Bean before I was offered the chance to review and give them away.  The toothbrushes have cute Sesame Street and Winnie the Pooh characters that I really respond to on them (as does she). The infant toothpaste was easy to find at my local drug store, and clearly packaged so that I knew I was getting the right product for her at each age.

So you have all the best intentions in the world,  a little stool in front of the sink, and your toddler looks like she’d rather have a root canal than stand there and brush her teeth?  Try some of these suggestions from Oral-B:

• Brush your teeth with your child!  You’ll be setting a good example for your child, and kids like to copy grown ups like Mama and Daddy.
• Sing your child’s favorite song or play a song from their favorite CD for the two minutes while you’re brushing your teeth.  You can stop brushing when the song ends!
• Recite a favorite nursery rhyme while your child is brushing.  They are finished when the rhyme is finished!
• And of course, a favorite character on the toothbrush and toothpaste definitely helps make brushing fun!

Why not consider sticking a toothbrush in your kids’ stockings along with the snowman peeps and candy canes!  When you do finally get around to making that first pediatric dental appointment (that should happen by age 1…gulp) you’ll be glad you did.

And thanks to the generous folks at Oral-B, one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win a bundle that includes all of the Oral-B Stages toothbrushes and pastes!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Oral-B Smile-Stages Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Leave a comment on this post saying who you’d give these toothbrushes to!  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Tweet this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  I just entered to win a full set of Oral-B Stages toothbrushes and pastes @BabiesGottaHavT.  Enter today! http://tinyurl.com/yzjhnaa
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday December 7th and ends on Wednesday December 16th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Thursday December 17th,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Oral-B provided me with toothbrushes and toothpaste to review.  Oral-B is providing the prize package for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for the writing of this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result:  44″.  Congratulations Sandra!  Thanks to everyone who entered!  Happy Holidays!

My friend Laurie from prenatal yoga is a chemical engineer.  One afternoon during a playdate in the park we started talking about bottles and BPA and all that. Here’s what she said:

“I’m a chemical engineer.  Plastic creeps me out.  I’m using glass bottles.”

Even two years ago when I was breastfeeding my baby and pumping at night, glass bottles weren’t easy to come by.  In fact, they were hard enough to find that despite Laurie’s warning, I went with BPA free plastic bottles.  And I felt good with that choice.  But amazing sites like Sprout Baby are now making it easy to find all kinds of green and eco-friendly products for baby,  including the next generation of BPA free glass bottles.

Check out my video from April of 2008 and Sprout Baby’s informative post for clear and sobering information regarding BPA and its potential risks to your infant’s health.  Scary stuff.  But the really good news is that the product selection for BPA and polycarbonate free feeding is just getting bigger and bigger and more and more cool!

Sprout Baby sent me two of their way cool new glass bottles to check out and I gotta say, I love them.  The Wee Go Glass Baby Bottle pictured at left is just plain awesome.   This neat bottle comes with a silicone sleeve (available in six fun colors on Sprout Baby) which is free of plastics and 100%  non-toxic.  Of course, everyone is concerned about glass bottles falling to the ground and breaking.  This protective sleeve helps prevent that outcome and also keeps the bottle from crashing into your iPhone in your diaper bag.  And get this, you can boil and dishwash the bottle and the sleeve…together!  This super tactile sleeve makes it easier to hold the bottle and also just feels cool–a sensation that won’t be lost on your infant.  The nipple is also silicone and non-toxic, and the plastic ring, plug and cap contain no polycarbonates and are food grade, FDA approved and recyclable.  Oh and they’re comitted to minimal packaging too.  What you see is pretty much what you get. Woo Hoo!

So the plastic bottles I did end up using were made by the company Born Free, and they worked really well for us.  Now, Born Free also has glass bottles available with their unique smooth flow valve that helps reduce colic and ear infections.  If your baby has these problems, I’d definitely check out this bottle.  The Born Free valve system worked really well for my baby and we didn’t have colic or ear infection problems at all.  According to their literature, this valve system is also good for breast fed babies who are being introduced to bottle feeding, because the steady flow of liquid it provides is very similar to breast feeding.  Born Free also offers silicone sleeves for added protection and grip-ability.

And..thanks to the generous folks at Sprout Baby, one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win one of each of these bottles–Bottles of Joy!  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Sprout Baby Bottles of Joy Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Swing by Sprout Baby and browse their wonderful selection of eco-friendly and green baby products.  Come back and tell me which product other than the glass bottles you’d like to try.  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of eight entries per person.

• Follow me on Twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Tweet this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  Creeped out by BPA? Win glass Bottles of Joy from @SproutBabyClub & @BabiesGottaHavT! http://tinyurl.com/ykn6ryk
• Follow Sprout Baby on Twitter - just click here!
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Sunday December 6th and ends on Wednesday December 16th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Thursday December 17th,  Random.org will select the winner,  and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Disclosure: Sprout Baby provided me with two bottles to review and two bottles for the winner of this giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

UPDATE!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result:  36″.  Congratulations Sarah!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

I’m gonna be honest with you and tell you that before today, I had never really given Bobby Flay a second thought.  I watched a lot of the Food Network when I was pregnant (Does he have a show on The Food Network?  See, I don’t even know…) but not so much since.  But then I saw this:

And then he made me lunch.

And now I have to confess I have a teeny tiny crush on him.  Guys are cute when they talk about food.  And even cuter when they cook it.  And when they cook food for the holidays…well that’s when you marry them.

So a wee bit of back story (because sad to say, Bobby didn’t just call and invite me over), Hellmann’s Mayonnaise partnered with Bobby Flay to create  the “Real Holiday Helpings” program on www.Hellmanns.com.  Check out the website for recipes and tips on how to easily prepare real food for the holidays (yes real food, containing real, simple ingredients) that kids and parents will both enjoy.  I was invited to this cool demo kitcheny place to watch Bobby Flay cook up some of these recipes and then taste them.  Let me say, I have never gone to one of those cooking shows where they pass out the food to the audience.  It is super fun.  And if what we ate today is any indication, the recipes are really really good.  We sampled the Tandoori-Style Roasted Whole Turkey Breast (pictured above), the Hot Italian Cheese Toasts, the Roasted Green Beans with Almond Aoili, and the Turkey Cuban Sandwich.  I will say only this:  Bobby Flay can come cook my bird any time.

So you can get all the recipes and watch video and everything on the website.  But here’s the good stuff…the good stuff that he said in the room while he chopped onions and didn’t even look at his fingers.  Yeah, he’s that good.

• Bobby Flay’s favorite day of the year is Thanksgiving.  He cooks two 30 lb turkeys, and makes a traditional meal with a theme.  Last year Thanksgiving had a Texas twist.  This year, the flavors will be inspired by New England cooking.
• And I quote, “I don’t stuff the bird.”  He says stuffing the bird slows the cooking time for the turkey and doesn’t allow enough control over the texture and quality of the stuffing.  He called himself a “texture guy.”  So he makes “dressing” in a separate pan.  He likes his dressing a little crispy to complement the turkey.
• According to Bobby Flay, that fenugreek in your cabinet is probably around 29 years old (given warehouse and supermarket shelf time).  He encourages you to restock your spice cabinet with fresh spices every time you change the batteries in your smoke detector.
• Bobby Flay has “mixed feelings” about brining a turkey.  Basically, he suggested it’s not worth the hassle.  How does he do turkey?  He washes it, pats it dry, and salts and peppers the bird.  He puts it in the roasting pan with chopped carrots, onions, celery and lots of chicken stock.  He then adds chunks of butter to the chicken stock.  He roasts it slowly in a 350 oven, basting every 20 minutes with the pan drippings.  If he is going to glaze it, he adds the glaze in the last half hour of cooking so the sugar doesn’t burn.
• Let the turkey sit on the counter for ONE HOUR before you serve it.  Yup.  One hour.  That’s what he said.
• Finally, according to Bobby Flay, the key to Thanksgiving is hot chicken stock.  He has lots on hand to help reheat and moisten everything from turkey to stuffing so that all the dishes come to the table steamy and delicious.

Oh and I took my picture with him.  That was cool.

Disclaimer in case I need one: Bobby Flay and his staff made the yummy food I ate and they picked up the bill.  Hellmanns gave me a gift card to thank me for my time. That was kind of icing on the cake.  The food was really good.

I have never considered myself a neat freak.  And if you could see what’s growing in my refrigerator’s snack pan, you’d absolutely agree.  But the amount of mess generated by a toddler learning to feed herself has shocked and very nearly grossed out this loving, dust-bunny-embracing, city Mama.  I clean the splat mat.  I pick congealed quiche that somehow ends up BENEATH the splat mat off the hardwood floors.  But still, there is a five foot radius of food splattered around the Bean’s high chair that could sustain a small dog for a week I’d say.

Learning to feed yourself is difficult.  It takes a while for those little fingers to figure out where the mouth is and then how to move food into it.  And when you start adding utensils, forget about it!  Kindertools were created by a mother of three, in conjunction with pediatricians and childcare specialists, to meet the needs of children ages 6 months to 6 years as they learn to use forks and spoons…and toothbrushes and crayons and paintbrushes and more!

Kindertools sent me and the Bean several of their products to try out.  Now, the Bean is almost 26 months old.  She is actually fairly great with her fine motor skills and has been using a fork and spoon for quite some time (bear in mind, however, that she didn’t walk until 18 months–kids all develop differently, right?). So she had actually progressed developmentally beyond some of these tools.  I would have loved to have tried them with her a year or so ago.  Though let me say, we have been using the toothbrush.  Kindertools were created both to facilitate learning to use straight handled items, and also for safety reasons!  I have often chased after the Bean as she runs around the apartment with her toothbrush in her mouth thinking she’s playing such a fun game with me.   But as they say on the Kindertools site:

Straight-handled utensils can also be a serious safety hazard for young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2001 nearly 2500 children under the age of 4 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for straight-handled utensil injuries. Clearly, straight-handled utensils are not designed for young children.

The unique, wide safety handles make these toothbrushes  (and all the utensils) super safe and prevents choking or other serious accidents.  I have to say, the information on the Kindertools site made me think twice about chasing her with a  toothbrush in her mouth!

Kindertools are ergonomically designed; FDA approved; made of a soft, durable plastic with no hard or sharp edges; and dishwasher safe!  And thanks to the super folks at Kindertools I have a whole set of their products to give away to one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader!  Enter today to win both toothbrushes, the spoon, the fork, the crayon holder and the paintbrush holder. Each one is brand new and comes separately packaged in a little ziploc (not packaged as seen in the photo above, however).

To Enter the Kindertools Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Check out the full line of Kindertools products on their website, come back, and let me know which one you’re most excited about trying out!  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste):  Got a messy toddler? Try Kindertools! @BabiesGottaHavT Kindertools Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/ykz4web
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway and link to the giveaway post! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday November 2nd and ends on Monday November 16th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday November 17th,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering! Disclosure: Kindertools sent me their full line of products to review and they are providing the products  for the winner of the giveaway.  I was not compensated in any way for this post. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

UPDATE!  We have a winner! Random.org says “Result:  36″  Congratulations Mommyishome!
Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

So as I have mentioned in the past, I am having a bit of trouble getting my two year old to eat anything that’s not beige.  Or sweet. Or a cupcake. So when the opportunity arose to try out and review some of the new Evenflo Smart Steps products, designed to foster healthy eating habits in toddlers, I jumped at the chance. The Evenflo Smart Steps line was created with three primary goals in mind, to encourage children to: serve themselves, explore food, and know portion sizes.  I am totally behind all of these goals.  And the fact that the products are all BPA free is kind of the icing on the cake…or shall I say, the ranch dressing on the carrot stick.

We had a chance to test drove the new Insulated Sippy Cup, the Snack Stackers (with the magic labels) and the Discovery Spoons.  The most honest review I can give is to say that they have so made their way into our regular eating rotation, that I totally forgot I was reviewing them. My gal is a bit old for the Discovery Spoons–they are really designed for toddlers just learning to feed themselves and are quite shallow with soft sides.  I actually wish I had a set about a year ago!  The insulated sippy cup is quite cute, first of all.  It has a nice cover for the germaphobic Mama like me, and provides good control against leaks.  And the soft insulating wrap that removes to allow you to plop the cup in the dishwasher is pretty cool.  The snack stackers certainly keep our chocolate bunny snack portions in check–and the easy to snap on lids and magic labels would also be great for storing and labeling baby food.  They are also awesome for maintaining nice and mushy raisins!  I’d love to try the Portion Plate with its colorful sections showing how big portions should be (complete with a tiny “just try it” blue bowl in the center)–very cool idea.

Babies Bottom Line: Evenflo Smart Steps provides BPA free, affordable, and healthy products to encourage veggie eating in toddlers.  Starting preschool with healthy eating habits?  That’s something that baby’s gotta have.  Wanna try them?  Here’s a link to a printable coupon so you can do just that!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Evenflo and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I’ve become so nostalgic since my baby girl turned two…I look at my old yellowed nursing bras and the spotted burp cloths all wadded up in a corner of my closet and I get a little misty.  I’ve taken to carrying the Little Bean in a cradle hold and telling her stories about when she was a teeny tiny baby and I would hold her and bounce her and jiggle her and sing to her for hours…and hours…and hours…oh yeah, and hours…sniff sniff sniff.  As if that entire time I wasn’t cracked and clogged and tired and unshowered.  How quickly we forget.

I’ll tell you who hasn’t forgotten.  The makers of the Bebe Bottle Sling.  We all agree, breast is best.  But when you’re a parent of twins…or triplets…or even just one sweet little ravenous bundle, on occasion you need to, oh call me crazy, eat a little something or get dressed for work? The Bebe Bottle Sling is a self-feeding baby bottle holder that attaches ANY kind of bottle (any size or shape) to ANY style car seat, and holds the bottle at the correct angle for hands-free bottle feeding.  Additionally, this product encourages baby to learn how to hold the bottle herself, by allowing the infant to take the bottle in and out of her mouth at will without having to concentrate on holding up the heavy bottle at the proper angle for feeding.  Clever idea, no?  I know you moms of multiples are nodding your heads.  Go to the website.  Check out the video to see this product in action.  You’ll be impressed.

Bebe Bottle Slings are coming out in the adorable colors and styles pictured on this post in mid-October.  Wanna try one  right now?  Here’s your chance! Cherie at Bebe Bottle Slings has offered an adorable brown monkey bottle sling to one reader  Want to enter?  Read on!

To Enter the Bebe Bottle Sling Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Check out the Bebe Bottle Sling site.  Browse, around, watch the video. Then come back and share one thing you learned on the site…about the sling or feeding  your baby…   It’s up to you!  (Try to choose something different from the entry right before yours) Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste): Look no hands! @BabiesGottaHavT is giving away a Bebe Bottle Sling! Got twins? Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/ycjzm44
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday  October 6th and ends on Tuesday October 20th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Wednesday October 21st,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Update!  We have a winner!  Random.org says “Result: 15“  Congratulations Mommy Daisy!  Hope you enjoy your Bebe Bottle Sling!

We toured our first preschool last Saturday. I was choking back tears the whole time like a total sap.  And I so didn’t think I was going to be an emotional wreck about the Bean starting preschool.  I really thought I was cool with it.  Wrong.

When I profiled the awesome eco-friendly reusable lunch kits from Citizenpip in my Back to Preschool Post last month, I fessed up to the fact that imagining my little girl eating lunch at school was enough to make me weep.  Maybe I’m just having flash-backs to when I threw away my retainer with my lunch garbage…twice! But when I finally have to embrace the fact that it’s time to send the Bean out into the world with a nut-free, waste-free, as organic-as-I-can-muster lunch, I’m so glad to have a lunch kit that is up to the job. Citizenpip’s reusable lunch kits are eco-friendly, muck-free (i.e. no BPA, PVC, Phthalates or anything else you don’t want mingling with your kid’s hummus), easy for wee ones to open, and dishwasher safe.

Citizenpip was started by a mom of three boys who believes that even a small change, like eliminating one family’s contribution of plastic baggies to landfills over the course of a child’s education, can make a difference.  But she also wanted a safe, practical, and cool bag for her kids to use.  She couldn’t find a lunch kit that satisfied her needs.  So she created one.  Complete with an insulated lunch box, matching stainless steel fork and spoon set, and cloth napkins. I think the results are pretty great.

Buy It! Baby’s gotta have a lunchbox now?  Use coupon code babiesgotta10 when you purchase a Citizenpip Reusable Lunch Kit between now and October 31st for ten percent off any order over $40!

Win It! Wanna take one of these lunch kits for a test drive?  You know you do.   Christine from Citizenpip has offered one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader a Square Meal Kit!  Yippee!

To Enter the Citizenpip Reusable Lunch Kit Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Take a swing by Citizenpip and check out the Square Meal Lunch Kit.  Come back and leave a comment on this post sharing which style (Yum, Eat or Tasty) you’d choose if you won.  Entering is that easy!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste): I just entered to win a Citizenpip Reusable Lunch Kit @BabiesGottaHavT Enter today! http://tinyurl.com/yb6vkxr
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Wednesday September 30th and ends on Wednesday October 14th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Thursday October 15th,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

UPDATE! Random.org says…Result: 77  Congratulations Jamie!  Hope you love your Citizenpip Lunch Kit!

Wanna know what I wore for the first day of high school?  A purple plaid shirt with puffy sleeves, purple corduroys, and my gold “W” necklace.  Back to school time is a memorable time.

My baby girl just turned two.  And I’m already deep in the preschool application process.  Yup.  No Joke.  For the Fall.  Of 2010. School is coming.  For the wee ones and the big ones.  Next year will be our first ever “back to school” season.  I’m not sure what you call “back to school” time when you’re not coming back but going for the very very first time, but we’ll be in it.  And here are the three must haves that my little Bean will not face the day after Labor Day without.

New Shoes.  The Bean will definitely be sporting a new pair of kickers on her first day of preschool. If your wee one is off to preschool or day care this year consider shoes by Stride Rite or New Balance.

Stride Rite is well known for their incredible quality, durability and style, but they recently came out with amazing new shoes for early walkers based on cutting edge research into babies little feet!  Based on their studies, they created “Sensory Response Technology,” designed to optimize the biomechanics of the foot and encourage development of a healthy and natural gait.  Their SRT shoes come with a moisture-wicking lining, multi-directional flexibility, an amazing fit check system (just remove the lining and hold your wee one’s foot up to it–special marks will tell you if it’s time for new shoes), and rounded edges to prevent falls.  The most amazing feature, to me, are the “sensory pods” in the bottoms of the shoes that allow your baby to really feel the ground.  Also reducing falls.  I don’t know about you, but if her shoes can keep my baby from falling down at daycare, I’m all for it.

And if you’re just  looking for some super cute sneaks for fall, consider the new line of New Balance sneakers coming out in October…featuring the Peanuts!  In general, I’m not a fan of slapping cartoon characters on shoes.  But there’s something about the Peanuts characters that’s different to me.  They are classics, and the scenes depicted on these sneaks take me right back to 1980–in a good way.  I’m totally loving the shoes featuring Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. But you can also get this classic running shoe with scenes from Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving or Christmas.  The shoes come sized for infants, preschool and grade school kids, are constructed with premium materials for comfort and breathability, and feature EVA cushioning in the midsole and heel and a solid rubber outsole for excellent support and durability.

A Lunchbox. OK I had a Charlie’s Angels lunchbox in 1977.  I have no idea where it is. I miss it.  To quote John Mayer (for the second time I believe…what’s up with that?) “whatever happened to my lunchbox?” I have, in general, been so emotional about the idea of my wee little baby (ok I know she’s two) eating lunch at preschool that I have weeded out all the schools that require 3 year olds to eat lunch. Snack she can handle. But lunch…without me?!?  Well, the Citizenpip Soup to Nuts Reuasable Lunch Kit has come close to making me change my mind. I kinda shudder to think abut all the baggies that I threw away(in addition to two, count ‘em, two, retainers)  in the 18 years my mom packed me pb & j, chips, a piece of fruit, and cookies. This super cool lunch kit is better for the environment and quite frankly, awesome.  It comes with: 1 insulated lunch bag with nametag and carabiner that easily attaches to a backpack, 1 stainless steel water bottle, 1 stainless steel insulated food jar, 4 BPA-free airtight food containers, 1 stainless steel fork and spoon set, and 5 100% cotton napkins. Thank you so much Citizenpip for sending one for us to try out and put away for next year.  We got the “Tasty” style and it is adorable.  Looking for a wee kit for your wee tot? All the components are available a la carte as well.  (And just a heads up…be sure to check back in September for a Citizenpip Giveaway!)

Ok, I guess she can have lunch school after all…

A Camera. Because the back to school photo is a definite must have. And if I were a better blogger, I’d have some old grainy photo of me and my brother to post here.  But I don’t.  Want to take that first day of school pic in style? Check out the new smart cameras by Samsung! These seriously tricked out cameras were designed for today’s seriously digital world. The DualView TL225 and TL220 both feature dual LCD screens with one on the front so you can see yourself in that awesome facebook pic you’re trying to take in front of your new minivan.  Also, and get this, these cameras feature a child mode which, when enabled, plays a little clown movie on that front LCD to get your wee one’s attention and up the odds of him actually smiling for the camera.  And want to get that photo to Grandma in a heartbeat?  The Samsung CL65 features Wifi and Bluetooth so you can upload the pics directly–no computer necessary.  Smile! This camera will be available in September…just in time for school.

It’s my baby girl’s second birthday.

And to celebrate, we are going to shower you and that sweet baby you’re dreaming about, loving from afar, or holding in your arms right now!  You’ve seen the videos. You’ve drooled over the products.  Today is the day to enter!  I’m so glad you’re here.

Talk about the best of both worlds…a baby shower with hundreds of dollars worth of wonderful products, but no silly games. I do wish I had some cake though…

I just want to say a big thank you again to all of the wonderful companies that have contributed items to the first ever Babies Gotta Have It Online Baby Shower Giveaway.

Here again, is everything that the winner of this unbelievable giveaway will receive:

Babies Gotta Bathe

• The Eco Store’s Aromatherapy Baby Moisturizer and Baby Shampoo (see my 7/6/09 post)
  
• Miessence Baby Cream Wash from Ely Organics (see my 2/9/09 post)
  
• The Entire Line of Baby Care Products from Earth Baby Organics (see my 7/6/09 post)
  
• No Slip Charlie Fingerless Baby Bathing Gloves (see my 6/10/08 post)
  
• Natural Laundry Detergent and Stain Remover from Clorox Green Works (see my 7/6/09 post)

Babies Gotta Eat

• The Portable Cutlery Set from No Plastic (see my post from 5/12/09)
  
• Minky Bib and Utensil Set from Happy Babee and Beeyond (see my post from 10/14/08)
  
• Bibs N Burps Set from Wow Baby (see  my post from 6/18/09)
  
• Baby Dipper Bowl and Spoon Set from Baby Dipper (see my post from 11/17/08 )

Beyond Your Birthday Suit

• Infant and Toddler Clothes by Hanes
• A Bamboo Onesie from Bamboo Couture (see my post from 4/18/09)
  
• A Baby Blanket of your choice from Lilitah (see my post from 7/9/09)
  
• The Handkerchief Bonnet, The Baby’s First Haircut Bag, Embroidered Burp Cloths and The Tooth Fairy Pillow from Little Journeys Baby World
• A Bamboo Fitted Crib Sheet and Bamboo Baby Washcloths from Bamboobino

Shift Into Gear

• The No Throw Baby Bottle Tether
• About Childbirth, About Breastfeeding, and About Newborn Care, the 3 DVD Set, from Laugh and Learn (see my post from 1/22/09)
  
• The Comfort Select Performance Dual Auto-Cycling Breast Pump from Evenflo (see my post from 4/28/09)
  
• The Complete Air Convertible Car Seat by Safety 1st

Playing  With My Baby

• Lubies Plush Toys
• Fruit Stained Natural Wooden Stacker by Ticki Tacki Toys (see my post from 4/18/09)
  
• That Baby CD and DVD by OyBaby (see my post from 6/30/08)

To Enter the

Giveaway

• MANDATORY ENTRY #1: First, watch all of the videos featuring the products included in the giveaway.  When you’re done, return to this post and leave a comment telling me 1. Who is this baby that you want to shower with beautiful things and why & 2. Which product you are the most excited about winning and why. This is a huge prize package, so entries that don’t provide complete answers to parts 1 and 2 will be discounted.  And it’s absolutely wonderful to want to win this for your very own baby!  One who is here or one who is on the way! Tell me a little bit about you and your babe!
  

***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did!  Maximum of seven entries per person.

• Follow me on twitter (click the birdy button on the left to do so easily) and Twitter this giveaway (I’ve even made it easy for you, just cut and paste): @BabiesGottaHavT is hosting an Online Baby Shower! Enter to win today! http://tinyurl.com/mfdmwl
• Blog this giveaway (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)
• Subscribe to my blog using the button on the left
• Grab my button and put in on your blog or website! Button code is in the right sidebar. Leave the link in your entry.
• Become a Fan of Babies Gotta Have It on Facebook–just click the link on the left sidebar!
• Email your friends about the giveaway! cc me in the message (babiesgottahaveit@gmail.com)–I promise I will not spam you or your friends. Cross my heart

Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S.  addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Sunday August 9th and ends on Sunday August 30th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Monday August 31st,  Random.org will select the winner I’ll email you immediately. After my baby called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my baby, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!

Update! We have a winner! Random.org selected number 249! Congratulations Danielle Donohue! Hope you and your baby love being showered! Thank you so much to everyone who entered!