Imaginext Dragon World Fortress

The Imaginext Dragon World Fortress playset is perfect for the little dragon slayer in your family.  The playset is a tall and towering fortress that reveals a world of imaginative play with surprise features and a full range of accessories. Stocked with interactive features, this toy kept our young testers busy and happy for hours!  The two knights that are included can be placed on the multiple activation disks and twisted to reveal great actions and special features such as opening the front door, moving the dragon’s head, or opening of the hidden staircase.  Your little one can also fire canons at the dragon and roll boulders down the dragon’s tail.  Our testers really love the variety of sound and light effects on the fortress.  There is lightning, thunder, and fierce dragon sounds.  All perfect for a little boy!  (Not to say our little girl testers didn’t love it as well!) The fortress includes two knights with helmets, shields and weapons, two flags, two boulders, one bed and 3 AA batteries.  It is designed for children 3-8 years old and retails for $54.99.  

SHOP Imaginext Dragon World Fortress

Precious Places Swan Palace

The Precious Places Swan Palace is a magical playset for your little princess.  Our little princess testers were busy for hours with this magical palace that is filled with interactive features, lights and music.  It includes a princess and her prince that each having their own thrones that transforms into a banquet room with the turn of one of the figures on the activation disk.  There is a hidden bed for a princess nap and a mirrored dressing room to get ready for the ball.  The second floor of the playset was a big hit with our testers because the princess and prince can waltz to the music at their own ball.  When the figures are places on the activation disks (there is even room for an additional couple that is sold separately), a giant heart lights up and a variety of dancing music plays.  Plus, there is a treasure room on the second floor for the princess to keep an eye on her treasure complete with more lights and magical sound effects.  The playset has a handy carry handle and the back portion (the banquet hall/throne room) folds up for travel.  With all its interactive features that promote imaginative play, this Palace was a big hit with all our testers!  Swan Palace comes with the Swan Palace Princess (Sirina), a prince, three pieces of headgear for the princess, one piece of headgear for the prince, one scepter, two flag toppers and two swans. The Palace is for children 3 and up and retails for $49.99. 

SHOP Precious Places Swan Palace

Target has received eight reports of the booster seat buckles opening unexpectedly, including three reports of bruises. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

This recall involves Circo booster seats with manufacture date codes XJ0811, XJ0812, XJ0901, and XJ0902. The plastic booster seat is blue with green trim and has white straps. The manufacture date code is printed on the backside of the seat next to the consumer warning information. “Circo” can be found on a label located in the front of the seat.

These seats were sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide from December 2008 through June 2009 for about $13. Consumers should immediately stop using the booster seat and return the item to the nearest Target store to receive a full refund.

For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.target.com

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. The recall involves the Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gate with model number 42111, which is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. The gates, which were manufactured before December 20, 2008, are white metal with a gray handle and a motion sensor nightlight that illuminates on approach. The manufacture date is located below the gate’s handle as a date wheel imprinted in the plastic; an arrow indicates the month, and the year is stamped inside the circle. The manufacture date is also printed on a sticker inside the battery door.

These gates were sold at mass merchandise and juvenile product stores nationwide, including Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart.com and other online retailers from January 2005 through July 2009 for about $60.

Consumers can call Dorel Juvenile Group toll-free at (866) 690-2540 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET; complete an online order form on the Dorel Juvenile Group Web site at www.djgusa.com/safety_notice/ to obtain their free repair kit; email the company at Smartlightgate@djgusa.com, or send a fax to (800) 207-8182. Consumers should not return the stair gates to retail stores.

Easy baby or not, every new mama has some essential products that they depend on during the first month of their baby’s life and I am no exception.  I have some go-to items that make everything just a bit easier.  Some things – A LOT easier!  I thought I would put together a list of some of my current personal favorite must-haves that have gotten me through month one.  Of course, there are other products that will be needed in later months – but here are my everyday baby essentials for life with Sutton. 

*Disclaimer:  This is not a complete list!  And, yes, I use essentials such as a crib and a car seat that are not on the list.  Please don’t email and tell me that I should be using a car seat!  Of course, I’m using a car seat.  I just thought that was a no-brainer and didn’t need to be added to my list.  

Nursing Cover
My personal choice:  Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover
I think my baby considers me a cafeteria many days.  He can just visit and snack all day long!  We are trying to establish a schedule but like many moms know, a newborn nurses on demand at the beginning.  Does he care if we are out running errands?  Nope.  Does he care if company is over?  Heck no.  When he wants to eat, the world stops.  So, my nursing cover is always with me.  And it’s used A LOT!  I especially like my Bebe au Lait Nursing Cover because the pattern is chic, the rigid neckline allows to me see my baby without everyone seeing him nurse, and the fabric is lightweight so that he doesn’t get too warm in the summer heat.  

Nursing Pillow
My personal choice:  Boppy Nursing Pillow
So, as I said, we are nursing a lot!  When I am feeding at home, I depend on my nursing pillow to make it an easier and more comfortable experience. The Boppy wraps around the front of me and lifts my baby up to a more comfortable position for nursing.  Plus, it takes the pressure off of my arms because the pillow supports his weight.  Okay, it’s only 8 lbs – but 8 lbs can get heavy 12 times a day!  Did I forget to tell you that he eats 10-12 times a day?

Breast Pump
My personal choice:  Medela Freestyle
Yes, we are still talking about boobs!  This is a new item on my favorites list.  Well, a breast pump isn’t really a favorite product of mine because it makes me feel very “cow-like” – but in my case, it will be a necessity.  I had never personally used a breast pump before (not with either of my first two babies).  So, I was a bit nervous.  In preparation for an out of town trip coming in September, I decided a breast pump was in order this time.  The Medela Freestyle is amazing especially for a new pumper like me.  It’s an electric pump that allows me to pump one breast at a time or both at the same time to get it done quickly.  The Freestyle is lightweight, compact and even comes with a handy bag to travel with.  The Freestyle and I are still getting to know each other – so stay tuned for my full review of the Medela Freestyle.  

Peg Perego Tatamia
Now, this is another new item on my favorites list! The new Peg Perego Tatamia is a multipurpose baby seat that is a triple threat in the world of baby gear. This versatile seat does the duty of three pieces of baby gear that can be used from birth to preschool age. The Tatamia works as a baby recliner, a swing, and a high chair.

We only use the Tatamia in two of the three functions right now but we use it every single day.  Since I have a very energetic 2 ½ year old, I love that I can put the baby up in the baby recliner out of his brother’s reach.  The recliner sets up high (about the height of a high chair) and has been my go-to place to set Sutton down when I can’t carry him around.  (I applaud those moms that can carry their newborn around all day but it’s not me.  Remember those two other kids?)  His overly-loving brother can see him but can’t actually get to him to try to take him out like on a normal bouncy seat.  The swing feature is also nice for those times that he is a bit fussy.  I would like the swing a bit better if it had a motor – but I am able to swing it with my foot as I am typing away on the computer.  Now, that’s multi-tasking at its finest!  *To see my full review with video of the Tatamia visit:  http://www.babygizmo.com/news/pegperegotatamia.php

Swaddle Blanket
My personal choice:  SwaddleMe
Yep, I’m a swaddler.  My babies just sleep better that way.  And whatever helps baby sleep – helps mama sleep.  The SwaddleMe blanket is a specially designed blanket that makes swaddling your baby super easy. The “fabric wings” allow me to wrap his upper body snuggly and stays put with two Velcro fasteners. It has a leg pouch that is roomy enough for him to kick a bit if he wants to and is easy to bring down to change his diaper without unwrapping his arms. The best thing about the SwaddleMe is that it’s quick and easy to use.

Double Stroller
In order to take the three kids out by myself, I cannot live without a double stroller.  Okay, maybe I could live without a double stroller – but why would I want to?  My son (remember we affectionately refer to him as the “runner”) still needs to be seated in a stroller when we are out in a busy, public place.  And unless I’m wearing my newborn (ala sling-style), a double stroller is a much needed product for us.  We have been testing a few really great double strollers this summer – so we don’t always use the same one.  That’s why I don’t list “my personal choice”.  Okay, if you pressure me about it…a few of my favorites are the Bumbleride Indie Twin, Uppa Baby Vista with Rumbleseat, Baby Jogger City Mini Double and the new Tech Tike Double City X3. 

Diaper Bag
My personal choice:  Storksak Gigi
With three kids, a large diaper bag is a must have for me.  I carry with me:  bottles, sippy cups, juice boxes, snacks, toys, diapers, wipes and much, much more.  So, in anticipation of Sutton’s birth, I chose the Storksak Gigi as my main diaper bag.  It is large and has three separate zippered compartments to keep all my on-the-go essentials organized.  It comes with a large changing pad and a bottle pouch and I love that it looks more like a large purse than a diaper bag.

Binky Holder
My personal choice:  JJ Cole Pacifier Pod
This is a small item but it’s still an every day essential for me.  Since I like quiet, calm babies – I am a big advocate of pacifiers.  Since I keep a pacifier with me where ever we go – I like to keep them in a pacifier holder to keep them clean.  The JJ Cole Pacifier Pod comes in a few great colors/patterns (I have the one in blue square) and hangs nicely off the side of my purse or diaper bag.  This pod is great for holding one pacifier so that I always know where one is in a hurry…unless I forget to put on in, of course. 

Sling
My personal choice:  Hotsling
I must admit that I don’t use my sling every day but I do use it.  When I need a little hands-free time but my baby needs some bonding time, I throw on my Hotsling and we are ready to go.  When I go out, I always make sure that I throw my sling in the diaper bag so that I have it just in case I need it. 

Video Monitor
My personal choice:  Summer Infant Handheld Video Monitor
I LOVE my video monitor!  I have been using it everyday for 2 ½ years.  Yep, you heard that right – every single day!  I have had to order a new battery once but other than that it has been going strong since I bought it.  (Well, we did have a little episode where my 4 year old poured water into her camera in her room – so I do recommend that you keep the camera out of reach of your children no matter what age.  Water + camera = bad news!)  Other than our little camera snafu, we now have two cameras that work on the same handheld unit giving me a great picture in my two youngest kids’ rooms day or night.  I can switch from one camera to the other with a simple flip of a switch.   No matter what size house you live in – I highly recommend a video monitor!

For more information on this fun toy for kids ages 18 months+:   see the manufacturer’s description below with a fun interactive video of Elmo teaching kids how to do the Tickle Hand Groove.

Fisher-Price takes two of Elmo’s signature toy features, Tickling and Dancing, and puts the Tickle Power right into kids’ hands with the new “Elmo Tickle Hands.” These two silly furry red Elmo hands fit right on to a child’s hands. One tickle hand is activated with a press of Elmo’s nose. When the child touches a surface, the hand will vibrate and kids will hear silly sound effects and fun phrases from Elmo. And as kids tickle, Elmo laughs even more! For additional fun, when kids press Elmo’s nose again, the Dance Mode is activated. In this mode, the hands will recognize movements and guide kids through Elmo’s new dance, step by step. Elmo Tickle Hands will be packaged with a special DVD that helps kids learn Elmo’s new dance from Elmo himself. Requires 2 AA batteries, included.

First, I love the two color combinations that the SmartZip Sleepers are available in.  Pair anything with chocolate brown and I’m on board!  (And not just because “chocolate” is in the name!) The sleepers are available in chocolate brown and blue (Blue Me Away) and chocolate brown and pink (Made Me Blush).  They are made of 100% cotton and feel very soft to the touch.

Second, I love that it is a zipper sleeper.  Most sleepers have those little annoying snaps that can make a new, tired mom go mad.  With a newborn sleeper sporting an average of 9 snaps, it tends to get tricky during middle of the night changes when you are deliriously tired. So, zippers are good!

Third, I love that it unzips from the bottom (the main feature!).  With a 4 week old baby, I am up feeding and changing my son up to 4 times during the night.  With standard sleepers, I am either forced to deal with snaps or with unzipping a sleeper from the top exposing my son to the cold air-conditioned air.  Not so with the SmartZip Sleeper!  I can unzip from the bottom and have my son’s diaper changed in record time without getting him mostly undressed.

Overall, the SmartZip Sleeper is a very smart product!  It is available in two fun color combinations and allows for quicker and easier nighttime diaper changes. 

To check out the SmartZip Sleeper for yourself, visit:  http://www.helloworldclothing.com

We packed up all three kids in a hurry because honestly I got up a little later than I should have.  But in my defense, getting up to nurse a newborn 4 times during the night makes me a bit tired.  So, we were flying around the house throwing things in diaper bags, getting the kids’ shoes on, and filling sippy cups.  At the last minute, I told my husband to throw the shiny new double stroller in the back of the SUV because we were sure to need it at the zoo.  I didn’t bother to check to make sure the stroller was ready to go.  “Just throw it in.  I’m sure it’s fine,” I said in my deliriously tired state. 

When we got to the zoo (30 minutes late), we loaded Sawyer, our 2 ½ year old and Sutton, our 3 ½ week old in the stroller.  Now, Sawyer is completely capable of walking on his own but he is what we affectionately refer to as the “runner”!  That kid will take off in a moment’s notice causing us to chase him full speed down the street.  Since we were downtown, we had to try to avoid this at all cost.  So, in the stroller he went.  As we walked to the zoo, I noticed that the back wheels of this brand new stroller were low on air.  Very low on air!  Knowing that the stroller had those fancy air-filled tires that make maneuvering on different terrain easy, I should have checked them before we left.  But I didn’t.

As soon as we met my brother-in-law inside the zoo, I decided that I had to fix the tires.  My mild OCD was kicking in and I couldn’t stand watching this fabulous stroller roll along on nearly flat tires.  It wouldn’t take but a minute.  I grabbed the stroller pump that came with the stroller out of the basket (I had enough sense to make sure that was along) and bent down to fix the tires right there in front of the lions.  After the first…oh, I don’t know…TEN TIMES that I tried to pump up the tire, I realized that this wasn’t going to take just a quick minute.  It wasn’t working.  And now I had managed to let all the remaining air out of the tire so it was completely flat and laying on the rim.  Nice job, Hollie.

Since I was right in the middle of the main walkway of the zoo, I decided to pull the stroller off to the side by a bench.  I tried a few more times to pump up the tire before I decided that I would have to remove the wheel from the stroller.  Now, this is one of those big side-by-side double strollers and I had it sitting all cocked to the side with one wheel removed.  This is where it started to get a bit embarrassing.

I was sooo excited to take this new double stroller out and about.  Even after quite a few years of testing and reviewing stroller after stroller, I still get excited over a brand new stroller.  My husband gets excited over new cars.  I get excited over new strollers! Just how it is!  So, I was feeling pretty special that I had this high end (what I would consider a luxury) double stroller out in the world that is filled with Gracos.  I felt fancy.  This was one of those double strollers that you can usually only get in baby boutiques or by ordering online.  Definitely not a Baby Superstore-type of stroller!  But there I am, broke down on the sidewalk in the zoo.  I felt like I had a broke down Pinto on the side of the highway.  Except this was no Pinto.  This was the Mercedes of strollers!

Everyone that walked by glanced at me as I was sitting on the bench trying over and over to pump up this stupid tire.  I even got a few “Gotta flat…huh?”  No, I just like to sit with the wheel to my stroller on my lap as I try to pump it up over and over.   Yeah, I have a flat!  All the Gracos are zipping by me.  Even those back-breaking $9 umbrella strollers are zooming by.  And I have a flat!  After about 30 minutes (I don’t know why I tried pumping it up that long), I decided that either the tire was busted or the pump wasn’t working.  I figured I would have to find another pump to find out.  With all the strollers at the zoo that day, someone was bound to have a tire pump. 

As I looked around the area that I was sitting in, I realized that there must be a Bugaboo convention at that zoo that day.  I have never seen more Bugaboos in one location in Chicago in my life before.  They were everywhere!  I knew that one of those Bugaboos had a tire pump!  But I was too embarrassed to ask anyone.  I don’t know why.  I decided I had enough and was going to push the stroller on the flat tire.  Maybe someone would offer to help?  Maybe not? 

I met the rest of my family because they had abandoned me after attempt #2 to fix the tire knowing that I wouldn’t give up on it.  But alas, I had given up.  On the way out of the zoo, I stopped one of the zoo employees in a last attempt to fix the tire.  I asked if they knew where I could find a tire pump and to my surprise they knew where one was.  They had a tire pump at the train ride at the entrance.  I ran over to the train and asked the employee to borrow the pump.  It was one of those bicycle tire pumps that you stand on and pump the lever like those old dynamite explosives that you see in the cartoons.  It worked!  It took 3 pumps that the tire was as good as new.  Now, I had the stroller back in tip-top shape just in time to head home. 

Now, the moral of the story is to make sure that your fancy stroller is in working order BEFORE you leave the house.  Check the tires!  And if all else fails, don’t be embarrassed to ask a fellow stroller mama to borrow a pump.

This innovative company creates one-of-a-kind ultra personalized baby blankets that truly say a lot about you and your baby.  Each blanket is one-of-a-kind, embroidered with your own copy along all four luxurious satin edges.  You create a blanket that is perfect for the new little one by not only choosing the text but by choosing from 32 blanket styles and colors, 27 fonts and 50+ thread colors. These high quality, personalized blankets are not only great for your baby but will make a fabulous and memorable gift for that special mom-to-be.  What says more than a gift that is that is so thoughtful that you took the time to personalize it for that special baby?

Since I just had my third baby, I had to pick out one of these fabulous blankets for my new bundle of joy.  Ordering was so easy!  After agonizing over which style of blanket to choose (there are so many great ones from 100% cotton cable-knit woven to cashmere), I chose the “Fit for Royalty” blanket in Nantucket Sky Blue to match my new prince’s room.  After choosing a font fit for royalty in chocolate brown, it was time to write the text.  Being indecisive with my “new baby brain”, I was thankful that their website provided an entire section of ideas for the text.  I was so pleased with the amount of text that I was allowed on each side of the blanket to really personalize it for my son.  I decided to include his name, all the birth stats, his parents’ names, and his big sister and brother’s names.  I was super excited to see the end product! 

Not to worry, Fill In The Blankie didn’t let me down!  First, the packaging was beautiful!  The blanket came folded neatly and tied with satin ribbon with the company’s information card pinned nicely to it with a diaper pin.  It was a great presentation for a gift. Once I opened up the blanket, I was thoroughly impressed.  The blanket that I had “designed” was gorgeous!  So gorgeous that I can’t bear to even use it with my new prince on an everyday basis!  I decided this blanket was going to be a keepsake and hung it on the wall in my baby’s room with blanket clips.  Now, every time someone visits our son’s nursery, they rave about the beautiful personalized blanket that features our son’s birth information.  I have to agree with the blanket’s style name “Fit for Royalty” because this is one blanket that is perfect for a prince! 

Now that I have found Fill In The Blankie and seen the high quality of these ultra personalized blankets, I will be ordering them again for the special moms-to-be in my life.  These blankets also make fabulous Baptism, birthday and adoption gifts!  I am so impressed with these blankets that I might just have to order another one for my son’s baptism that I actually use this time. 

These unique blankets start at just $39 and ship within 3-7 business days.  To check out Fill in the Blankie, visit:  http://www.fillintheblankie.com

While no incidents related to the pieces have been reported, BabySwede, the North American distributor, received notification from BabyBjörn AB, the manufacturer, that two consumers in Japan had found small metal pieces in the padded section of the babysitter’s fabric seat. After further inspection by BabyBjörn AB of 15,000 babysitters, five more small metal pieces were found. As a precaution, BabySwede is performing a voluntary recall of the product. Small, sharp metal objects found in the padded area of the bouncer chair can protrude, posing a laceration hazard to children.

The Babysitter Balance subject to this recall is model 0090 and is sold under the brand name “BABYBJÖRN®.” It can be used for infants weighing between 8 pounds and 29 pounds and is sold in five colors: Black/Silver, Black/Red, Dark Blue/Blue, Brown/Beige and White Air.

The Babysitter Balance has been sold nationwide at independent juvenile retailers, mass retailers, Internet retailers, and catalogs from September 2008 through July 2009 at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $169.95 for the BABYBJÖRN® Babysitter Balance and $189.95 for the BABYBJÖRN® Babysitter Balance Air.

Consumers should stop using the Babysitter Balance and contact BabySwede LLC toll-free at (866) 424-0200 for instructions on returning the babysitter for inspection. Consumers may also visit www.babyswede.com or write to the company at 1157 Rockside Road, Cleveland, OH 44134.