Make a Splash!

Kids are notorious for loving to jump in puddles. Rain or shine, my daughter constantly asks to play outside. Usually when it is raining, I cringe and immediately say no (imagine the wet clothes, the discomfort). I think this was sparked by the absence of proper raingear in out lives. Puddlegear has made it possible for kids to go outside and enjoy the weather, rain or shine. Puddlegear is made by Abeko, and can even special-order adult raingear.

In Puddlegear, toddler and baby raingear- children can play outside feeling warm, unrestricted and dry in their PVC and Phthalate free rainwear - certified by oko - tex to be free of over 100 harmful chemicals. Puddlegear rainwear is soft and flexible, breathable, wind and water proof, safe with specific designs to keep your kids safe on the playground and in nature, very durable, flexible in all 4 seasons, and best of all it absolutely adorable and very cool! We have styles to fit every kind of player, onepiece raingear, bib rainpants, fireman rainjackets, and mitts! Great sailing raingear! Kids teachers and parents agree that when kids need to be dry - Puddlegear raingear is fantastic.

I love that you can actually get rain-proof pants, which means no more soggy pant hems! My daughter loves jumping in puddles, but is not a fan of wet hair, but she just lives in her Puddlegear now. She loves how flexible and comfortable everything is. I love the generous cut which allows the set to grow with her. We had her wear her coat and pants while apple picking in the rain (sorry not pics, my camera is not as waterproof as I thought). This fall has been one of the rainiest yet, but my baby has stayed nice and dry, and had fun!

I Love OBento

There is really nothing worse when foods that are supposed to be nice and cold are actually warm and soggy. I generally am not a big fan of ice packs after more than one mishap where they explode, thereby contaminating the cooler. My daughter is a huge fan of cut-up apples with lemon juice on them. She asks for that for her school snack every single day. It was around this same time that I got very interested in Bento Box lunches ( more to follow on that in a few days) and I found I Love OBento. I Love OBento are the winners of the 2006 Good Design Award. They carry cooling-gel Japanese Bento Lunch Boxes. The tops are filled with insulating gel, just store the lid in the freezer overnight, then attach to your lunch in the morning. Your lunch will be kept a safe temperature for hours. The box itself is microwave and dishwasher safe, and you wash the lids by hand. All plastics are certified Lead free, BPA free and Phthalate free.

I love the bright color of the Hokkaido box we have, and am super-excited to try the Gel-Cool Plus that are made with wind-power. I feel safe with my daughter using her Hokkaido box because I know it is not full of chemicals, and I especially love that there is not way for her to get to the gel pack (as kids are known to do). Her lunch stays nice and cold, and she stays happy. It is a win-win.

Crocodile Creek Takes a Peek into the Mind of a Child

Crocodile Creek has been a staple brand in our house since we brought home our daughter. We use their place mats, puzzles and even balls. It was not until recently that we were in the market for a backpack. My daughter started school, and I was pretty uninspired by all of the licensed character items out there. We have them in our home, sure, but I like to avoid certain licensed characters when possible. They feel too over-done and I wanted to make her first day of school a little special.

We happened to take a stroll through a local shop and saw the Crocodile Creek line of backpacks and lunch boxes. My daughter was immediately pulled to the super-unique princess backpack. This was not the usual deal. I saw her eyes light up. She even said "I bet no one will have this backpack mama." She loved that this princess was so special and different from everything we had seen. I loved that is was a BPA, PVC and phthalate-free backpack. It was a match made in heaven. It was like Crocodile Creek designed it just for her. Of course we had to grab the lunch box too (it is also BPA, PVC and phthalate-free). My baby got her fairy tale theme. I love the durable quality of all Crocodile Creek products, and these items are the best! I love how special they are.








I think her first day of school photo really speaks for itself. She is beyond thrilled, and so am I.

Kleynimals

I often see frazzled, busy parents handing their babies and kids their kids to play with. It never fails to make me cringe a bit. Keys can contain lead, and also tons of dirt, particles and germs from your hands. Then there are the sharp edges which could hurt your baby. Of course you can give them another teether, but lets face it, babies are drawn to those shiny, clinky-clanky keys. Kleynimals is the solution. Kleynimals are non-toxic animal keys that come in their own muslin storage bag. The animals faces are adorable, and there are no rough edges.

Kleynimals are made out of Food Grade Stainless Steel so they look, and feel like the real thing. Stainless steel is safe (your forks and spoons you put in your mouth everyday are the same thing, and because it is so easy to clean hospitals and labs use stainless steel. No need to worry about BPA or phthalates. Kleynimals are made in the U.S.. Best part...Kleynimals are dishwasher safe and will not rust. Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and the average stainless steel product contains over 50% recycled material.

Kleynimals are win for everyone. My nephew loves gnawing them, and my daughter actually likes to pretend she is using real keys. Mommy tip: remember how they tell you to put a spoon in the freezer to cool a teething babies gums? Well use Kleynimals the same way! Mommy inventors are the best!

KinderGlo Giveaway!

I think it is a built-in thing with children to have certain fears. Darkness seems to be a big one. When my daughter started sleeping in her own room, she was very adamant that a light be left on at night. The large overheard light in her room, was a bit much, even dimmed. I was looking for a night light that would help her feel comfortable. KingerGlo is a series of adorable LED night lights that bathe the room in soft light. They are non-toxic durable little characters for your children to keep right in bed with them (or carry on trips to the bathroom). The charger powers the night lights for 8-10 hours, and you can choose color settings and put it on a 30 minute timer or leave it on all night. We got the Quarter Moon and we love it! My daughter feels safe and she is really into the different colors she can choose (each night she chooses a different color she wants her moon to be). If you want to receive $5 off of any of the night lights on the KingerGlo website, use code: ZX0I4GG3XN13. Want to win one for your tiny tot? Here's how:

Giveaway Rules:
This contest is only open to US and Canada readers. You must be a Product Mommy follower. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on July 6, 2011. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on July 7, 2011 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and your KinderGlo night light of choice (any available style) will be mailed directly from KingerGlo.

How to Enter: You must be a Product Mommy follower. Leave a comment with your email address under this post.

Extra Entries:
You must do the "How to Enter" first and be sure you leave a "comment" for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Don't forget your email address too.
1.Become a fan of Product Mommy on Facebook
2. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Twitter
3. Subscribe to Product Mommy by email (top left of blog page)
4. Twitter about this contest (and leave a link to the Tweet)
5. Post this giveaway on Facebook (and leave a link)

Clek Gives a Boost to Car Rides

Buying a car seat can be a daunting process. You usually need an infant seat, then a regular car seat then a booster. It does not leave a lot of room for children who grow quite fast, and because of age requirements are often too young to be in a booster, but are barely fitting into their regular car seats. Clek helped make this whole transition easier for our family. Clek purchases 100% of their materials from North American suppliers, including the final assembly of all Clek products. Clek contributes to non-profit organizations aimed at helping children who live below the poverty line. They always think about the environment and how to diminish their impact on the earth. We were a match made in heaven.

Their booster seats are top of the line for safety and style. Consumer reports ranks them as the best in safety. We have the Clek oobr. Unlike most boosters it has a fullback that can be removed to grow with your child. Therefore, you can use this booster from age 3. As your child grows, you can remove the back to have a regular booster seat. The oobr also has LATCH installation. Most boosters lack the LATCH installation which means if there is not child sitting on the seat, it slides all over the car. I also find it gives me piece of mind to know my child is in a seat that is secured. The oobr reclines up to 12 degrees, and has an adjustable head restraint with protective EPS foam. It was engineered with front, rear and side impact in mind. There are belt guides to help positioning of the seat belt on your child's hips and shoulders. There is also a Magnesium Back Frame that contains the torso during a side impact collision and protects against vehicle intrusion.

This is an amazing booster seat. We knew we wanted to move my daughter out of her regular 5 point harness seat and into a booster because she was too tall, and her legs were getting bruised from the belt being too tight. I also knew we needed something with a back, and LATCH installation. My options were all down to one seat which had it all....the Clek oobr. Instead of having to get two more car seats, I could get this one, and simply remove the back as she gets older. She is super comfy in the seat with plenty of room. The Drink-thingy by Clek attaches easily for her to always have her water bottle with her. The cushioning on the seat can be easily removed and washed. I had my husband time me while I installed it, and it was very simple and quick! I cannot recommend this seat enough. We are finally done with the fight of why she needs a seat and how comfortable she is. She actually fell asleep in the seat, which may not sound like a big deal to you, but it is. My daughter has not napped since she was two...she resists them, until now.

I was lucky enough to ask Clek Founder, Chris Lumley, his inspiration for creating the Clek line, and why he added the LATCH system. Click here to read that interview.

Born Free Review and Giveaway!

I remember when I first had my daughter, and suddenly hundreds of reports were released that baby products (like bottles, feeding utensils etc.) contained BPA, and other plastics that were actually harmful. I immediately went on a mission to become BPA free, and have never looked back.

Born Free was one of the first companies to go BPA, Phthalates and PVC free with their bottles. They even have an Eco Friendly recycling program where you can recycle your baby bottles when you are done with them! Their new Twist'NPop™ Straw Cup is no exception. It is free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC. It is a generous 14 oz. cup with a hygenic pop-up silicone straw mechanism. This cup is perfect for the older child who is familiar with drinking from a straw. It is truly spill proof, and we tested this by my daughter throwing it into my bag, right next to my phone. I love that the straw is covered until she wants a drink, and simply twists it up (so nice to not have it exposed to germs). My daughter keeps making me wash it because she too is all about this cup. Because Born Free is such a great company, they are offering one lucky Product Mommy reader a chance to win their own Born Free Twist'NPop™ Straw Cup (color may vary according to availability). Here's how:
Giveaway Rules:
This contest is only open to US readers. You must be a Product Mommy follower. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on March 23, 2011. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on March 24, 2011 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and your Born Free Twist'NPop™ Straw Cup will be mailed to you directly from Born Free.

How to Enter: You must be a Product Mommy follower. Leave a comment with your email address under this post.

Extra Entries:
You must do the "How to Enter" first and be sure you leave a "comment" for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Don't forget your email address too.
1. Become a fan of Born Free on Facebook (let them know Product Mommy Sent you)
2. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Facebook
3. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Twitter
4. Subscribe to Product Mommy by email (top left of blog page)
5. Twitter about this contest (and leave a link to the Tweet)
6. Post this giveaway on Facebook (and leave a link)

Keeping the Rhoost Safe!

We all know child-proofing is one of those things that always causes parents to cringe. You know you have to do it, but the idea of bulky plastic locks, plug covers and edge covers makes for a very ah, hem, tacky home. Rhoost is your salvation! Rhoost was co-founded by Vianka and Tavinder. They both realized that most baby-proofing products are not very functional, and also often include screws and sticky adhesives that ruin your furniture and home, sometimes permanently. They created some solutions. Rhoost products are easy to install, and they are portable since you do not have to stick them somewhere, or screw them in. The products come in colors that match your home, and they are all BPA, lead, phthalate-free and 100% recyclable. We got to try the edge which are the perfect way to cover sharp edges in your home. They attach easy, and unlike the edge protectors you stick down, these have a unique installation that makes it hard for even the smartest baby Macgiver to remove them. Fabulous! Finally, baby-proofing that makes sense!

Parking Pal

Whenever you are in a parking lot with your child, you always worry that they will make a run for it, and get seriously hurt. I was super-psyched to find Parking Pal. Parking Pal Magnet was created by a mother in Virginia who wanted to find a way to keep her young children focused when they got out of the car. All you have to do is place the magnet on the outside of your car. Its bright colors and illustrations with the small palm print attracts the child, and makes them want to place their hand on it. After a little practice, it becomes their safe-spot...the place they go to the minute they get out of the car. We practiced with my 2.5 year old and she loves it. She knows to go right to it when she comes out of the car. It has not become a staple of our daily lives. There are plenty of designs to choose from, so you cannot go wrong.

Coupon for Product Mommy Readers:
Go to http://www.parkingpalmagnet.com/index.html and use promo code: PRMO09 for FREE SHIPPING!

Making safety fun is a wonderful thing!