Safety 1st BoostAPak

I love convenience. I love products that have more than one use. My latest review represents both of those qualities. Please allow me to introduce you to the Trunki BoostAPak by Safety 1st. The BoostAPak is a child booster seat that is also a backpack with storage. How cool, is that?

You may have noticed that safety is an important topic for me and one I cover regularly. Here in California, kids are required to be in booster seats until they are 8 years old. I looked at the Governor’s Highway Safety Association chart and see that 48 states and DC have booster seat laws. Unfortunately, I have noticed that a lot of my kids’ friends do not use booster seats. I don’t know if it’s just ignorance of the laws (the age was raised to 8 just a couple of years ago) or figuring it’s not necessary. Proper seatbelt positioning on a passenger’s body is very important. The extra “boost” the seats give equals a boost in safety! Chip and Lulu are very much on the circuit of having play dates, getting driven in carpools and just generally in other people’s cars. I also often have at least one kid in the minivan who does not belong to me. The BoostAPak is a super easy way to make sure my kids and their friends have a booster seat.

When the booster arrived, Lulu could not wait to check it out. She uses it the most. When I first learned about the seat, I thought it would just be an “extra” booster to have on hand. It turns out that it is Lulu’s preferred everyday booster. She has managed the conversion since the first use. It’s really intuitive: Pull up the flap, flip up the green arms (which serve as seatbelt guides) and belt yourself in. The reverse is just as easy with the added step of pressing buttons to fold down the green arms. It just takes seconds to do which is really important when everyone is rushing into school at drop off!

Regular booster seats can be cumbersome for little kids to carry. The “hands free” backpack design just can’t be beat. The storage area is the space under the seat. I would describe it as a nice size space to put a few items. I don’t think it is big enough to double as a school backpack. As you can see the size is compact but is comfortable for my 6 and 7 year olds. Lulu is taking a plane trip next month and is excited to be able to bring her BoostAPak on the flight. It fits easily into a plane’s overhead compartment.

I definitely recommend this seat. The only drawback I see is the height limit versus the weight limit. It doesn’t really make sense to me. Chip is just about 52” and 52 lbs with Lulu a few pounds and a few inches behind him. Obviously, according to the specs (see below), they will both be out of the booster (due to height) before they are 8 years old. It would be great if they could add to the height limit especially because some kids need boosters even beyond the legal requirement. Safety first!

Price: I have seen the Trunki BoostAPak available online from $43-$75. It certainly makes sense to shop around.

Specifications: The BoostAPak is a backless booster for kids 40-80 pounds and 43"-52" in height. Made of a durable plastic shell with high visibility reflective trim, Removable cover for easy spot cleaning and an ID tag. Product weight is 3.4 lbs. Product dimensions are 14.0 x 12.0 x 18.28.

Disclosure: I was provided one Safety 1st BoostAPak for review purposes. All written content and opinions are my own.

LA Moms' Top OB Recommendations

credit: WALTRAUD GRUBITZSCH/AFP/Getty Images

In a place as huge as LA, choosing an OB can be overwhelming. I talked to power moms in all parts of LA to find out the local top docs. I'm over on CBS Los Angeles with the list: LA Moms' Top OB Recommendations

Bel Bambini Boutique–My Top Picks for New Baby

I recently attended the grand opening event for Bel Bambini in Newport Beach, CA. Chip and Lulu participated in the fashion show and had a blast in their debut on the catwalk. This boutique, with a location in West Hollywood as well, is amazing! Spacious, bright and carries so many of my favorite products for ages 0-6. My top picks for New Baby are featured on their site. If you aren’t in So Cal, you can shop online!

 

 

1. Aden + Anais Bamboo Muslim Collection – Mela ($40.00); 2. Skip*Hop Zoo Bib – Zebra ($8.00); 3. Trumpette Socks – Maryjanes Pastel ($24.00); 4. ERGObaby Original Baby Carrier – Camel ($115.00); 5. Little Giraffe Luxe Blanket ($85.00); 6. Boon Catch Bowl ($6.99); 7. Skip*Hop Pronto! Changing Station – Nixon ($34.00); 8. Vulli Sophie The Giraffe ($23.00)

Random Review-Tween Bling

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I was at the pre-Oscar gifting suite, well, back just before the Oscars. There was a lot of stuff to look at, lots of people to meet and samples kindly offered to me. One sample that I’ve been meaning to review, just because it catches my fancy, is Tween Bling. I’m not a tween, nor do I have a tween. But let’s put that aside. The company, Smart Mom Jewelry, started out with baby teething products. Particularly pendants made of food-safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone. So mom can wear a cute pendant and baby can grab it and teeth on it. Brilliant! One of my key rules for reviews: Must do more than one thing. I don’t have any teething people in the house at the moment, nor tweens, but there are really no rules. I like camo so I selected the camo heart Tween Bling. It’s soft, flexible, you can fiddle around with it, twirl it, whatever a tween (or adult blogger) MIGHT do with Tween Bling. Even stick it in your mouth…Not that I’m there on that, but if I were a tween girl…Maybe. The major feature of all the Smart Mom Jewelry is the safety of the “breakaway clasp”. If the necklace gets yanked, it pops open and off. Tween Bling is dishwasher safe and federally approved. It’s fun for tweens and yes, I do believe this mom can get away with wearing it too.

Childproofing My Toyota Sienna

Childproofing the Car from Kimberlee Mitchell on Vimeo.

When Kimberlee Mitchell, Child Safety Expert & Professional Childproofer, came with the Safety 1st Squad to childproof my house, she also childproofed my minivan.  We shot a quick video to go with this post to get you started thinking about keeping your family safe on the road.  I think it’s amazing that there is so much that we don’t realize when it comes to safety and preventing injuries in our family cars.  Here are some of Kimberlee’s key tips: eliminate projectiles, ensure you have your car seats properly installed, make sure you have the right car seat for your child, do not use your cell phone while driving, use techniques to prevent forgetting your baby in the car, hide your keys from kids.  For complete information please read Kimberlee’s blog post Childproofing the Car.

I have a big interest in car seats and consider myself to be really knowledgeable about them and about installation.  Here is a link to a Time.com blog post about a AAA/Dorel Juvenile Group survey (Dorel is the parent company of Safety 1st) that shows most parents don’t know the height and age requirements for car seats.  Further, and most alarmingly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 75% of car seats are not properly installed!  I learned how to install a car seat properly before Chip was born by meeting with a car seat tech who went over the specifics with me.  I’ve since taken advantage of any opportunity to speak with a police officer at a child safety event and opportunities like working with Kimberlee and Safety 1st.  Believe me, if I can learn how to install a car seat correctly, anyone can.  Kimberlee has a blog post, Car Seat Confusion: Which direction? Which location? When do they outgrow it?  Her post also includes a tv segment she shot on San Diego Living showing the proper installation of car seats in a Toyota Sienna.  She shows us some some good tips, including using a pool noodle to get a good install.  Now buckle up and be safe!

Childproofing with the Safety 1st Squad

Elizabeth Peterson Calls the Safety Pros from Kimberlee Mitchell on Vimeo.

When it comes to childproofing, I consider myself to be fairly aware of the potential dangers in my home.  However, when it comes to figuring out what to get, where to get it and then, oy, actually installing it and installing it correctly…I start to glaze over.  One of the things I love about blogging is being able to be connected to so many great experts who then become part of my network of experts.  A favorite quote of mine from Ann Landers from years ago was that if she didn’t have the answer, “she always knew who to call.”  When my friends at Safety 1st contacted me and asked if I’d like to have Kimberlee Mitchell, Child Safety Expert & Professional Childproofer, who is chief advisor to The Safety 1st Squad, come to my house, I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough.  Kimberlee arrived bright and early one morning and we sat down at my dining room table and talked.  I learned that unintentional injury is the number one killer of America’s children between the ages of 1 and 4, claiming more lives than both violence and all disease combined.  If that didn’t cause you to sit up straight, I don’t know what will.  Kimberlee says that by taking childproofing precautions, it is estimated that 90% of these injuries can be avoided.  I suddenly had an urge to go check on Chip and Lulu.  Gulp!

Next Kimberlee and I discussed Childproofing 101.  Now, here is where I will tell you that you can start to feel bogged down.  So I’m going to tell you to stick with me and let’s look at attacking it in manageable chunks.  Kimberlee recommends you start to childproof during pregnancy when you will have some time to tackle the tasks.  Childproof, yes, but combine it with consistent proactive parenting that teaches your kids to understand boundaries.  Lengthen the life of your childproofing by not allowing your child to study you using the devices--even a toddler can figure out some childproofing mechanisms.  Keep some areas and rooms in your home off limits and even use two layers of protection as back up for extra dangerous rooms, ie: the laundry room.  Think like a child and realize that your kids can get creative and use something in a way that you would never think of.  Anything that will fit inside an empty cardboard toilet paper roll is a choking hazard.  When it comes to pools, exterior doors or any extra dangerous areas consider layers of childproofing in case one layer fails.  Anchor all items that are tipping hazards, furniture and tv’s can kill.  Kimberlee has written a comprehensive guide, Childproofing 101: How to Create a Baby Safe Home Environment and I think it really is a gift that this is available to all of us on the Safety 1st site.  I have provided some highlights from the guide, definitely read it for the expert’s eye view.

Ok, remember I asked you to stick with me?  So you’ve identified the issues around your home.  Kimberlee helped me identify mine.  Now what?  You can run to a store like Target or Babies R Us and buy childproofing products.  Just figuring out what to get can be a headache.  Then you get the products home.  Next, you have to figure out how to install them, whether you have the right tools, then actually finding the time to do it.  Inevitably, it’s something that can easily be put off.  So there sits your bag of childproofing supplies.  I’m all for saving a buck and doing it the least expensive way possible.  However, when it comes to childproofing, it just might make sense to call in the pros.  The time, aggravation, product knowledge, problem solving and ultimately child safety that you are paying for is worth it.  I also learned that all of us have access to mass consumer child proofing products.  However, child safety professionals additionally have some pro grade products that they can utilize, if needed, in your home.  Kimberlee started her childproofing business, Boo Boo Busters, Inc., when her first child was a baby.  She quickly became known as “The Childproofer to the Hollywood Stars” and has many celebrities as clients.  Great, you’re thinking, this must be REALLY expensive.  Not necessarily!  It all depends on what your needs are.  You can have a consultation, basic install all the way up to an elaborate, complicated job in a huge mansion.  The Safety 1st Squad currently services Southern California and the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area.  If you don’t live in their service areas, you can visit the National Association for Childproofers to locate a member near you.

After my meeting with Kimberlee, she returned a few days later with a member of her Safety 1st Squad to do the installations as well as bring me several products to use all over the house.  The Safety 1st guy got to work installing some cabinet locks: one bathroom cabinet got Tot Lok magnetic locks, my kitchen cabinet where I keep my cleaning supplies got Spring ‘n Release latches, and a tough to figure-out-what-to-do-with lazy susan cabinet received a Wide Grip latch.  Next, some big bookcases in my living room were attached to the wall and an older TV that I have in my den (not flat panel) was attached to the wall using straps that Kimberlee special ordered—another reason to use a pro.  Here is MY real life childproofing and, because I live in Southern California, earthquake-proofing situation: My husband had already attached the safety straps to our large flat screen tv in our living room.  However, he still hadn’t gotten around to putting the safety straps on the two large bookcases we had bought two months ago.  In the meantime, we had made sure there was a loveseat in front of them to break their fall, but really is that the way to do things?  In the video, you can see the Safety 1st guy installing the safety straps on our bookcases.  The whole installation went so quickly and with Kimberlee here as well, it was easy to see that you really are benefitting from all the experience these pros bring to your house.  I have slightly unusual kitchen cabinets so they had to problem solve on the lazy susan and switch from the original plan to something else.  If I had been on my own, I probably would have just given up.

Many of my readers will remember my Bosch Washer & Dryer post where I wrote about the dangers of children climbing inside front loading washers and dryers.  Some Bosch models come with a keypad locking feature which is an awesome safety feature and I hope all manufacturers make this standard.  Kimberlee introduced me to the Front Load Washer-Dryer Lock which can be installed on washers and dryers that don’t have a built-in locking feature.  Some bathtub safety products that we have put to good use are: the Bath Pal Thermometer, Froggy & Friends Bath Mat & Soft Spout Cover all of which have been excellent and “why didn’t we get these sooner?” items!  Two more products that I would recommend: Clear View Stove Knob Covers and Clearly Soft Corner Guards—previously I had taped bubble wrap on a couple of sharp corners—this looks better!  And finally, Surfer Guy’s favorite for keeping tabs on Lulu: The Safety 1st Prism Color Video Monitor, which includes remote zoom and baby’s room temperature.  Really fabulous!  There are many more products, including car seats, like the Complete Air Convertible Car Seat that I reviewed here.  For a full overview of the products, visit Safety1st.com also, be sure to visit Kimberlee’s Safety Blog. 

Ah, there is nothing like being able to check those tasks off your to-do list, not having to be in conflict with your husband and just knowing the job was done right.  Thank you Kimberlee and thank you Safety 1st Squad!  Ah, but we weren’t totally done…Kimberlee still had to childproof my minivan!

Annabel Karmel’s Welsh “Rabbits”

Last Summer I had the pleasure of meeting British Children’s Cookbook Guru Annabel Karmel.  During that meeting, I came up with the idea of presenting Annabel’s newest cookbooks: Top 100 Finger Foods and Top 100 Baby Purees to the Silicon Valley Network of Mom Blogs for inclusion in our Book Club.  Being quite the non-cook, I was really excited by Annabel’s recipes and the easy to follow layouts of her books which are full of photos.  I was really happy when Annabel’s books were accepted for the book club!  So here I am, the not-so-much-of-a-cook determined to do this book club!  I flipped through the Top 100 Finger Foods and early on in the book I spied my salvation: Welsh “Rabbits”!  Perfect I thought.  Easter is coming and I could bring these in to my son’s preschool class for snack.  We are not obligated to bring snack in, but there are a lot of moms who seem to sign up an awful lot to do it.  I thought this would be a way to make a splash and it looked fun and I love themes!

Welsh Rarebit is something my mom used make when I was a little kid.  I think we used to call it Welsh Rabbit though.  It was toast with ham, tomato and cheese sauce all broiled.  I think it is considered pub food in England and is often made with beer in the cheese sauce.  Although, to be in honest, all the time I lived in England, I don’t believe I ever saw Welsh Rarebit on any pub menu.  I never did go to Wales, however.  Anyway, to me it’s real comfort food.  The fact that I was sharing an echo of my childhood with Chip’s classmates made the recipe appeal to me.  I also felt fairly secure in the fact that it seemed to essentially be “glorified grilled cheese”.  What kid doesn’t like melted cheese on toasted bread?  With that mental encouragement I set off to the store.  I lucked into a “breakfast sale” where English muffins were half price and a dozen eggs were .99 cents.  I took it as a sign that I was on the right track.  I secured the shredded cheddar cheese next.  Then I had to focus on the rabbit face.  I knew presentation would be key.  Peas, check.  Black olives, check.  Fresh chives, located with the help of cute produce guy, check.  Snow peas, check.  Next I had to get into substitution mode.  The teeth called for scallion.  I couldn’t see coming up with enough white part.  Cute produce guy suggested parsnips and showed them to me—white carrots!  Parsnips look just like white carrots.  Educational Bonus: I learned what a parsnip is in conjunction with writing this post.  As a final touch I grabbed a bag of baby carrots because rabbits eat carrots.

Last night I prepped everything, and got it into containers.  I lined the cookie sheets with tin foil.  We had pizza for dinner so I could reuse the boxes to transport the Welsh Rabbits to school.  I had it all planned.  I would take Chip to school for 9am.  Come home and take care of Lulu and do some preliminary prep of the cheese and egg mixture.  The sitter was due to arrive at 9:45am.  Then all I would need to do would be to broil, assemble and go!  Of course that’s NOT how it went.  Right around midnight last night Chip woke up with a fever.  A pretty high one, 105.  So I gave him Motrin and sat up worried and watching.  His temperature went down but I didn’t really sleep.  I woke up a few more times to check on him.  No school for Chip.  I figured I’d still bring the Welsh Rabbits in because 1) I bought all the stuff and had it prepped to go and 2) I was all set to write my fun post here.  But, part of my well oiled plan was that when I dropped Chip off I was going to ask the teacher when to time my arrival with the Welsh Rabbits.  So now I had to call the school and ask the director to ask the teacher what time I should arrive.  The director was insisting I didn’t need to come in since Chip was sick.  I was insisting I really wanted to.  Frankly, I just wanted to see my well oiled Welsh Rabbit plan through and nothing would stop me.  So the response came back that 10:15 would be the perfect time to come in.  My sitter arrived and I swung into action.  I executed 16 Welsh Rabbits in about 20 minutes and headed out to the minivan.  I kept the snow peas and baby carrots in separate containers for the plating.  Cool mom victory was at hand.

I reflected a bit about the recipe.  To be honest, I wouldn’t typically have all the ingredients on hand to make Welsh Rabbits.  But, cheese and English Muffins are fairly typical staples in an American kitchen.  From there you could leap off and use whatever fruit or veggies to make a character or animal.  Asparagus for antennae, apple slices for ears or cucumbers for eyes.  I kind of realize that a lot of recipes get adapted to what works for you or what you have on hand or simply what you like.  This is definitely one that I think I could do again with whatever I have in my veggie drawer.  I also think this could be a fun do-it-yourself activity for kids.  So, at about this point I pulled into Chip’s school (without Chip) and headed into his classroom.  While the kids were finishing up an Easter story and went to wash their hands I plated their Welsh Rabbits for them.  The kids came in and sat down.  I guess I don’t know what I was expecting.  Oohs and aahs?  Wow, isn’t Chip’s mom the coolest?  It was funny almost…If I hadn’t worked so hard on those rabbits!  I guess I should understand my audience is a bunch of kids who are all about to be 4 yrs old within the next couple of months.  I did put something in front of them that they had never seen.  Slowly, though, the kids warmed up.  A couple of the boys really started chowing.  One tiny girl asked for more snow peas and another asked for more carrots.  A lot of the kids started nibbling.  My son’s teacher said I needed to give the kids some time, that they would probably eat.  To be fair they also had me in the class so that might have made things a bit odd.  The mindset of toddlers is not my strong suit.  At least none of the kids said “yuck” or “ick”.  I mean a number of them really were eating the rabbits.  I don’t know what I was expecting…I guess I just thought that when I was 3 I would have thought the Welsh Rabbits would have been cool to get for my snack.  So, I packed up my stuff and sauntered out.  I glanced back and saw the kids were still working on the snacks, so I would say you could call that a hit.

Los Angeles Moms Blog Party

I am a proud contributor to the Los Angeles Moms Blog.  I was privileged to attend a very fun party last week along with some members of our soon to be launched sister site, The Orange County Moms Blog.  The event was held at the lovely Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.  I was really excited for the opportunity to catch up in person with so many of my sisters-in-blogging.  It was an added bonus to meet so many great companies with all kinds of swell products.  My readers know that I love checking out products and experiences and reporting what I find out.  So, with that, I share with you a bit about who I met and what I learned:  BitDefender is global leader in anti-virus/internet security.  BitDefender  is about to launch BitMoms.com which will be THE security resource for online moms.  Stride Rite shoes was on hand and I learned that they also have Keds and Sperry Topsider…All three names echo from my youth!  I was really intrigued by Litl, which is a new kind of computer that really has something for everyone.  I have decided that I must have a Litl.  As I was pondering obtaining a Litl, I happened upon Cinnabon, but not Cinnabon’s cinnamon sticky buns.  Cinnabon is actually coming out with cupcakes.  For you, my dear readers, I tasted all 4 flavors and I loved them all.  But my favorite?  The carrot cake.  To burn off the cupcakes, I kept moving on to Ebates.  Everyone who shops online should sign up for Ebates.  You get paid to shop.  I belong and get a few checks a year.  I think that says it all.  I’m going to play favorites, and the next one was a favorite: iGo was there and gave me their Charge Anywhere and I was in love.  It’s a charger that you can recharge and take so that when you are away from power, you can recharge your cell phone (as well as many other devices)!  Dole was talking about their Dole Challenge.  I needed a caffeine boost and luckily Bosch Appliances had set up shop with their Tassimo and I was able to make myself a tasty latte.  I think I need a paragraph break. Ahhhh.  This might be a good time to play Bejeweled, actually, which we received in our gift bags.

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When I lived in West Hollywood, I practically lived in the Whole Foods across the street.  I’m sad that I no longer can walk to a Whole Foods.  However, I was able to walk over and chat with them at our party.  Growing up in New England, I’ve been a fan of Stonyfield Farms for a long time.  I was interested to try their new Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt, which was so tasty, it made me want to break the dish.  But, I didn’t.  I’ve used Erba Organics on both my babies and was happy to pick up some samples from them.  You just have to check Taga out to believe it.  It’s a bike…No…It’s a stroller…Wait! It’s a bike!  All I know is I want a Taga and I want one in orange, please.  Babies, the movie will be in theaters Mother’s Day Weekend and is a film that follows four babies in four different countries.  How perfect that the next table I visited was Ju-Ju-Be?  I’m a total diaper bag minimalist.  Two years ago, I found the perfect bag, the Ju-Ju-Be Be Quick in Citrus Sorbet and I was so happy to see one of my favorite brands at our party!  Next up was Joseph’s Rugs, they are doing a cool thing where you can have the service of a rug consultant online for free!  I am really looking forward to visiting Pretend City in Irvine with Chip and Lulu, it’s an interactive museum that allows kids to pretend to be the adults.
I love Skechers because you can get shoes for the whole family in one store.  So, I was very happy to see they were in attendance at the LA Moms Blog party.  I was even more excited when they offered me a pair of their new Shape Ups.  Shape Ups are shoes that promote weight loss, reduce stress on knees and tone muscles among other things.  I got a cool pair in black.  I can’t wait to try them out.  They are kind of “different” in that they look like a rocking/rolling type of sole.  But the idea is that they get you to walk a certain way in order to get all the benefits.  I learned about Bootights at the party and then received a pair to try out a few days later.  They are one of those, “Finally, someone invented this!” things.  They are tights that have a sock built in to the foot area.  The sock portion comes in ankle and mid-calf lengths, perfect for the two types of boots I have.  I highly recommend Whrrl, a cool application that allows you to “check-in” and tell stories with pictures using your mobile device or computer.  You can share your stories on sites such as Twitter and Facebook.  PosePrints is a unique way to personalize your invitations and cards and Busy Body Books are a great way to keep your family organized!  Whew, what a great party and what an interesting mix of companies and products!
Photo Credits: Carla Duharte Razura of babyjidesign.com for all the photos in my post.

Win a Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat!

We have a winner as selected by Random.org! Rhonda from Louisiana, #149 has a new car seat on its way to her.  Thank you so much to all who entered.  Lots more excellent giveaways coming up between now and Christmas....Stay tuned!

When you are a parent, you are on an almost constant vigil concerned for your child’s safety.  I spend a lot of time driving around in my minivan with two toddlers in car seats.  Car seat safety is a huge topic.  Did you know that car seats actually expire?  Yes, they do.  Each car seat has a Date of Manufacture on it and the car seat expires 6 years from its Date of Manufacture.  So odds are, that as a parent, at some point, you will be researching car seats.  I had the opportunity to meet the team responsible for The Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat and was instantly intrigued by the seat’s features:
The Safety 1^st® Complete Air™ Convertible Car Seat with Air Protect™ Side Impact Technology is perfect for infants rear-facing from 5-40 lbs. and 19"-40" and toddlers forward-facing from 22-50 lbs. and 34"-45".

• Air Protect™ Revolutionary Side Impact Technology: Breakthrough system shields head and immediately reduces side impact forces through the precise release of air.
• QuickFit™ Harness System adjusts harness height from the front in one easy step without uninstalling from the car.
• Harness accommodates children up to 50 lbs.
• One Click LATCH installation system allows for faster and easier installation when moving between vehicles.
• 5-position adjustable headrest easily accommodates your growing child.
• Removable cup holder.
• Styles: McKenna (Black/Grey), Harvest (Brown/Orange)

I also learned that over the past 20 years, the number of deaths related to front impact crashes has declined, while side impact crash fatalities have increased by 20 percent, in part due to larger vehicles, like SUVs, on the road. In a side impact crash, there is an average of just eight inches of steel protecting children in the back seat. Side impact collisions are among the deadliest type of collision for children, accounting for one in three child crash fatalities, nearly all of which are caused by head trauma.  This was pretty shocking to me as I had no clue that side impact crashes were so different, statistically, from front impact crashes.

The media team for Dorel Juvenile Group the parent company of Safety 1st  have been kind enough to send over a car seat for Chip and Lulu to try out.  I really love this seat!  It is so easy to adjust.  The center section slides up and down allowing you to adjust the height of the shoulder straps without having to undo the straps and re-thread them back through the seat and cover.  Installation is a breeze.  The instruction booklet is very easy to follow.  Chip has been napping less and less, yet, he still falls asleep in the car often.  The Complete Air Seat allows him to lean against the side impact protection headrests and he says it’s much more comfortable than his other seat.  The other really nifty feature is the removable cup holder (not pictured).  Chip loves being able to put his drinks right within reach.  Why doesn’t every car seat have this???

I always like to go to the experts for everything--it makes my life easier.  The car seat experts online can be found in the forums at Car-Seat.org as well as on their blog, CarSeatBlog.com.  I'd like to give them a special thanks for publicizing my post to their many helpful, knowledgeable and fabulous members!

I’m so thrilled that Safety 1st has offered one of their Complete Air Convertible Car Seats for one of my readers to win!  With a price of $249.99, The Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat is a dream to install and use.  Here is how you enter: Contest period runs from Sunday, November 1, 2009 at midnight (Pacific) until Saturday, November 14, 2009 at midnight (Pacific). Enter by leaving a comment stating what your dream road trip destination is (have fun, be creative, your answer has no bearing on your chances of winning), and leave your e-mail address. If you don't leave a comment that includes your dream road trip destination and your e-mail address, your entry will be disqualified.  One entry per person. Winner must provide a US mailing address. At the end of the contest period, I will utilize Random.org to randomly choose a winner. Winner will be contacted by e-mail the business day following the end of the contest period. Winner has 72 hours to respond to my e-mail. If winner does not respond within 72 hours, the Safety 1st Complete Air Car Seat will go to the second place winner as decided by Random.org. Good luck!

Win a Disney Stroller!

Random.org has chosen #6 as the winner of the stroller! Congrats to Joyce of Illinois!

When Delta Children's Products contacted me to ask if I'd like to review their new Disney umbrella strollers, I didn't even have to think twice. I'm a huge fan of both Disneyland and strollers, so the offer was right up my alley. Their latest offerings are: Disney Pixar Cars, Disney Princess and Disney Fairies. Chip is a huge fan of Disney Pixar Cars and I knew he'd love to take a spin in that stroller. You can never go wrong with the Disney Princess theme which here includes images of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. However, Peter Pan has always held a special place in my heart so I chose the lavender Disney Fairies stroller featuring Tinkerbell. I've been to Disneyland twice in the last week learning a great deal about the new offerings coming up for this spring and summer. I look forward to sharing all the news with you in upcoming posts! I learned that Tinkerbell features prominently in Disney's upcoming entertainment, events and attractions so I was really pleased with my choice. A couple of days ago I headed to Disneyland with Lulu to put the new Tinkerbell stroller to the test. First of all, it's just cute! But, beyond that, the stroller actually has a canopy which is not totally common with umbrella strollers and a must for a day at the amusement park. This stroller is ideal for amusement parks because it folds up quickly and easily for hopping on and off shuttles, trams and trains. It is really lightweight and just all around good for quick trips if you are running errands and are in and out of the car. The front wheels swivel and make pushing easy. The stroller has a tall frame which allows for babies and toddlers to ride comfortably. While I certainly don't think this would be your only stroller, I do believe that this is a very good umbrella stroller and an excellent addition to any family's "stroller stable." With upcoming summer vacations, this is exactly the kind of stroller you can use to get you through the airport and one that doesn't take up much room in a car trunk. Besides, it's fun for the kids to have Disney characters on their stuff. Lulu is just tickled with it and pushes it around on her own (she isn't tall enough to reach the handles, but you know what I mean). I definitely recommend this stroller to anyone in the market for a wallet friendly, fun and capable umbrella stroller. These strollers retail for approximately $20.00 and have a maximum weight capacity of 35 lbs.

Guess what? You get the chance to win your choice of one of these three strollers! The kind people at Delta Children's Products have made a stroller available to one of my blog readers. Here is how you enter: Contest period runs from Friday, May 1, 2009 at midnight (Pacific) until Sunday, May 10, 2009 at midnight (Pacific). Enter by leaving a comment stating which stroller you would like to win and leave your e-mail address. If you don't leave your e-mail address, I cannot contact you if you win and your entry will be disqualified. One entry per person. Winner must provide a US mailing address. At the end of the contest period, I will utilize Random.org to randomly choose a winner. Winner will be announced the business day following the end of the contest period. Winner has 72 hours to respond to my e-mail. If winner does not respond within 72 hours, stroller will go to the second place winner as decided by Random.org. Happy strolling!

Win a Milk Bank Vacuum Storage System

I'm really excited about a new product from DexBaby, Milk Bank Vacuum Storage System for Breastmilk. If you pump and store breastmilk, then pay attention, because this is revolutionary! When you expose breastmilk to air, it affects the taste. The Milk Bank system includes a vacuum pump that is really easy to use. It vacuum seals your breast milk so you can store it and not worry about it becoming rancid. In fact, breastmilk stored with the Milk Bank system will stay fresher, longer than breastmilk stored using other systems. The storage bottles double as feeding bottles for extra convenience. The bottles are free of Phthalates, PVC and BPA which is of major importance to me. So easy to use, you just pump your milk and then transfer it into the fully compatible storage bottle or feeding bottle. The system also includes an insulated outer feeding bottle that allows the milk to stay warm longer. Studies have shown that babies receive more nutrients when they drink warm milk. Milk Bank also makes a vented feeding bottle. The best thing about it is that it doesn't leak! No matter what I've done, I can't get it to leak. I've been close to tears of frustration with other brand's bottles that leak. The bottles are triple-vented to help prevent colic, spit-up, burping and gas. The Milk Bank products are available exclusively at Babies R Us. For more info visit www.MilkBank.com

I am giving away one Milk Bank Vacuum Storage System, retail value $25. To enter, please leave a comment below including 1) Whether you would keep the system or give it away (don't worry, there are no wrong answers!) and 2) Your e-mail address so I can contact you if you are the winner. The contest ends at noon PST, Monday, February 16, 2009. I will use random.org to select the winner at random. Good luck!

Congratulations!!! Random.org has selected #1 Unrepentant Kulak as the winner. Thanks to everyone for entering!!

Win a Simmons Pearl Stroller!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Simmons Pearl Stroller Giveaway. http://www.random.org/ has selected the winner: #77. Congratulations to Renee of California!
Your Simmons Pearl is on its way! Happy Holidays!!!!

With an infant and a toddler, I love having a stroller that either one of my kids can use. My quest has ended with the Simmons Pearl Stroller. Simmons, the same company that makes the mattresses and kids furniture is now making strollers. The Pearl comes in two colors: Bahama Blue and Orange. Orange is actually one of my favorite colors and I like the fact that it is good for both my boy and my girl! I've used the stroller for over a week and really put it through its paces. What I really love about it is the fact that the seat can face in either direction. For example, Lulu likes to face me, so with her in it, I have her "riding backwards" looking at me as I push. Chip would rather see where is he is going, so the seat easily reverses so he can be forward facing. The Pearl is easy to fold and fairly lightweight at 18 lbs. It has a telescoping handle that easily adjusts which is convenient for Surfer Guy who is 6' 1".

The underbasket is generous and easy to access. The ride is smooth and I am able to steer with one hand easily. Maneuverability is a dream. The Simmons Pearl Stroller is really three strollers in one. It converts to hold a Graco Snugride carseat. It also fully reclines so that your baby is laying flat, bassinet style. It also has two other recline positions and a multi-position footrest. The stroller comes with a foot cover which I haven't tried but I'm sure would be very useful in colder climates. It can accommodate a child up to 40 lbs which will take you quite a ways into toddlerhood. Both Chip and Lulu were very comfortable sitting in it for long walks. The brakes are easy to use and the 5-point harness adds to the safety.

My only complaints are that the sunshade isn't as ample as I'd like, especially important here in sunny Southern California. I also wish it came with cupholders, I dream of cupholders. However, most strollers don't come with them, and you can always add them on.

You can purchase this stroller from many fine retailers including HERE

Simmons, a division of Delta Children's Products has generously offered to giveaway a Simmons Pearl Stroller in orange to one of my lucky readers! Just in time for the holidays. So here is how you enter: The contest begins at 12:01 am PST on Friday, December 12 and will end at midnight on Thursday, December 18*. During the contest period, please enter a comment below, your comment needs to include where in the world you would most want to push the Simmons Pearl and why. You must also include your e-mail address. One entry per person. Failure to complete all three requirements of the comment and/or multiple entries will be cause for disqualification. The winner will be selected by Random.org and I will notify the winner via e-mail. The folks at Simmons will ship the winner their new stroller! Note: Winner must have an address in the United States. Easy and fun, the way holidays and babies should be ;)

*blog owner reserves the right to extend the contest period

Tall Order

So I got an e-mail from BabyCenter today entitled "How tall will your child be?" Interesting, that it wasn't "How short will your child be?" or "What will your child's height be?" Because, I guess, taller is better? Right?

As far as I'm concerned, the taller you are, the more you can eat. I have friends who are around 5' 10" and mention they can gain 10 lbs and no one notices. Damn them! I also recall reading some study that said taller people make more money. Eat more and be rich--the best scenarios I can think of! So, anyway, the e-mail contained a link to a handy calculator to predict your child's adult height. It said it was only useful for age 2 onwards, so that knocked Lulu out. I plugged Chip's data in and then they asked for the parent info, I duly entered Surfer Guy's and mine. Answer: 6' 6". What the HELL? I'm 5' 7" and Surfer Guy is 6' 1". How random is the 6' 6" prediction for Chip? And what use is the predictor? Why predict height? What is the upside (no pun intended) of predicting height? So I can place futures orders on his clothing? Let the NBA scouts know so they can start tracking him? Something I can lord over other parents at the park? "Hey, I used the BabyCenter calculater last night and it says Chip will be 6' 6". So of course he will be able to eat more and be rich." That must be it.

Newborn Tipping Point

I've about hit the newborn tipping point with Lulu. Y'know how it is, they are a blob, happy to sit in their infant car seat. Prisoners of their own lack of motor skills. Hand luggage that pees and poops. In Lulu's short 7 months of life she has been to: a Hollywood movie premiere, a VIP screening of Sex and the City, a winetasting at the Beverly Hilton, a fundraiser luncheon in Beverly Hills, hair salons, nail salons, my massage appointment, an entertainment industry mixer at a bar and I'm sure lots more I'm not remembering at the moment. The ultimate Hollywood accessory. The baby. She sure helps on the networking end of things. The best ice breaker, "how old is your baby?"

Well, those days are over, almost, pretty much. She squirmed her way through my dentist appointment yesterday. She wants out of that bucket she's been sitting in. O-U-T. Just this week, she started to crawl. Places to go, and fish to fry, that's her new agenda. More alert, more awake to the world. Just the first of a series of tipping points yet to come. I'm already missing my little baby and she's still in size 2 diapers....

Flying with Junior

Since Chip and Lulu have racked up quite a few frequent flier miles in their short lives, I'm frequently asked for tips on "flying with baby". I should charge you for this info, but, I'm feeling generous, so here ya go, for free, my tips gathered from my many jaunts in the friendly skies (yeah, right):

1. At security you will need to take baby out of car seat and put that and stroller and EVERYTHING through the x-ray machine. You carry baby in your arms thru metal detector. I’ve even had TSA ask me to remove my baby’s shoes. Be prepared and just take your time and don’t stress about people in line behind you.

2. bring stroller and car seat to gate even if you didn't buy them a seat, there may be an empty seat and you will be happy to have the seat.

3. You don't need the car seat base so leave it at home (most people don't realize this!). If you have an infant seat, just put the seatbelt over the top on the slots. (for car and plane)

4. If the plane is full, you can gate check the stroller (you always check this) and carseat. You get a gate check at the counter by the gate, stop there and ask for it. Also, ask at gate about seats, they may move you to a better row that has free seats b/c you have baby. Always, ASK! When you get to the door of the plane, leave the stroller folded there and somebody will come up to grab it to put under plane. Try to get car seat on plane anyway, get a stewardess to stick it someplace if poss, otherwise, gate check it. Take off anything that could get lost like toys and cupholders. I have been lucky w/ both babies in that I've always gotten empty seats when I had the infant seat. If airline doesn't have "preboard" for people w/ kids, ask if you can anyway.

5. Give your baby a bottle or breastfeed upon take off and landing to help w/ the pressure in her ears.

6. There *should* be a changing table in one of the bathrooms. Ask the stewardess which one. I have heard some planes don't have one, I've never had that problem. If it "works" ie: alone in the row or husband to help, I try to change the baby in the seats because the changing table is a pain to have to schlep to, etc.

7. Pack a big ziploc bag (gallon size or so) and stick a couple diapers, small pack of wipes, changing pad, etc whatever you would need for a quick change and reload this bag when you get back to your seat in preparation for next trip to bathroom. This can be a mini diaper bag to just carry in your hand to the bathroom so you don't schlep stuff you don't need. But, bring MORE diapers than you think you'll need, just don't schlep it all to the bathroom.

8. bring changes of clothes for YOU and BABY. I've heard of many accidents that get mom, too.

9. Formula is no prob to carry on. If you need bottled water for formula, buy in airport as you can't count on a thing from the flight attendants, esp if they run out.

10. If you are flying alone, don’t hesitate to ask stewardesses to hold your baby while you go to bathroom.

11. When baby is past infant car seat age, consider getting a “sit and stroll” which is a car seat that converts to a stroller, it’s an all-in-one for travel. Further ideas to consider: get a CARES restraint harness that harnesses baby/toddler in airline seat, check car seat as luggage—you don’t have to have it to fly.

12. When baby is past formula and breastfeeding you can’t count on milk on the planes. Buy milk boxes that don’t need to be refrigerated from if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby they have great ones (Green boxes). I like this Trader Joe’s the best because the hole on top is easier to pour into a baby bottle.

13. Security doesn’t tend to hassle you about milk, juice, snacks, etc when you are traveling with a baby. A trick to getting water thru security is to put it into a sippy cup. Anything in a sippy cup tends to pass muster w/ TSA.

14. Consider apologizing in advance and being positive to those around you if you fear you will have a fussy baby. It catches them off guard and then what are they going to do??? Give you a hard time? You already apologized!!! Hahahahaha! Have a great trip!

Now that you are all set to fly with Junior, visit UpTake.com to figure out just where in the world you will go!

Traded my BMW for a Minivan

The BMW suddenly was so small. When I had JUST ONE BABY, I could get by fine. Still room for an adult to sit in the back seat, stroller fit comfortably in the trunk. But, then I GOT PREGNANT AGAIN when #1 was just 10 months old. Nine months later, I had two babies in the backseat. It was time to start to let go. Gosh, I loved that car. Stickshift, powerful engine, zipped in and out of traffic and all around town. I didn't want to be one of THOSE moms. THOSE moms drove minivans. That wasn't ME. But then I started to dream....My nights and days were full of one obsession: SLIDING POWER DOORS.

That's all I wanted. SLIDING POWER DOORS. I had to have them. The baby in the infant seat, the toddler squirming around, my arms full, my backbending gymnastics trying to weasel them into the BMW. If only I could have those SLIDING POWER DOORS, my life as a mom would change. I would be at peace.

So, it happened. I traded my BMW for a minivan but still look wistfully in my rearview mirror at the BMW life I left behind.

But, oh, yeah....I love those sliding doors.