It’s an electric nail file for babies. I thought it sounded weird and possibly hazardous.  It’s not!  When we saw it at the Baby show we went “Oh (lightbulb flasing) that’s what you meant!”  Clearly it is hard to describe, but it is a colorful miniature electric nail file that is super easy and is a genius answer for parents who are too scared to clip their babies nails!

There are different roughness pads from the most gentle to well. . . pretty gentle.  It does have a slight whirring sound but not too loud for babies.  It is actually perfect for keeping them still and attentive so you can file their miniscule baby nails.  I can’t wait to get one for my daughter’s claws!

Their second product I loved just as much if not a little more.  It is a sippy cup with a straw that moves.  What does this mean? It means when you first give your toddler a cup with a straw, they use typical cup/sippy cup behavior and tip it upside down to get more liquid.  Not too effective with the straw at the bottom however.  This straw has a weighted ball at the end though so it moves to where the liquid is when you toddler tips it to their mouth. BRILLIANT! Why has no one thought of this before.

So first of all hats off to Zo-Li for their innovation!  We thought we couldn’t love anything more than the on-the-go snack containers but these are definitely competitors.  These two products are our first “innovations we loved for our ABC giveaway.”

How can you win these products?

We realized though that we don’t know who has babies/toddlers young enough to use them so we’re doing quick re-ask.  If you’re following our ABC blog write-ups and have a newborn/young toddler who can use the nail file or straw cup post within the next 48 hours (through Tuesday midnight) and tell us which product you would want to win.  On Weds morning we’ll pick the giveaway winners but you’ll have to wait until these products arrive out in the next few months!

They were hot pink canopies and what looked like a dark black? interior.  I wondered to myself if they were Itzy Ritzy carseat covers since I they looked super cute and the Itzy ones are.  But I thought they didn’t make a fushia/black combination.  So I leaned a little closer and saw they weren’t black but leopard skin print (so cute!).  Hmm. . . I thought.  Just like the ones Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn have for their twins, how cute!

They a slow idea formed through my thick skull and I actually looked at the Dad with the twins instead of the carseat covers and yes, it was Jerry O’Connell!  Well I’m an enthusiastic celebrity watcher/stalker like the best of them so I grabbed by baby girl and jumped over to the baby pool where Jerry O’Connell had both his twin daughters on his lap and was introducing them to the pool.  I asked if he needed any help with the two of them (I’m such a good samaritan. . .) but he had it covered.  He really handled both those girls alone beautifully. I’m not sure I would do such an artful job with 2 six-month olds myself!

Just a good reminder that if you’re looking for celebrity style without the typical pricetag – check out the Itzy Ritzy carseat covers.  You can personalize them with your child’s name (Just like the O’Connell twins have) and they really are just so adorable!  (Both the carseat covers and the twins.)

Given what I do for a living, I’m shown products that just make me think, “that would have been nice to have when my (baby/toddler/preschooler/fill-in-the-blank) was younger.”  By The Book Fill in manual for taking care of your kids is one more of these products.

It is both a guide for new parents to navigating the both the safety and transition elements of having caregivers other than Mom and Dad in the house.  While there are many “Nanny Logs” out there, this product goes much deeper than the ones I have seen.

Karmel Publishing’s “By The Book – Kids” binder has everything that a modern family needs to think about in terms of safety and convenience gathered together into one binder.  Not only are there basic logs about when little Johnny slept and ate but there are sections for parents to fill out about, “What do my kids like to eat or hate to eat (for breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks),” “What do my kids like to play,” and “What are possible discipline methods for my kids.” The brilliant thing is that there are different pages for each kid so it is super easy to specify that Johnny hates peanut butter while Jason insists on it everyday. Also great with discipline methods since what you might specify for your 18 month old is not what you would tolerate with your 4 year old.

As the mother of kids of 3 very different ages, I also love the section on extra curricular activities, what they are, when they are, how to get your child there.  Each time I go away I find myself drawing up elaborate schedules for my husband, any participating grandparents, our nanny about who needs to be driven where, when and by whom.  Who is getting picked up by carpool and at what time – you get the drift.  What I love about this binder is that there is an easy referral mechanism so you don’t need to recreate the wheel if someone new needs to step in.  Plus – since it is a binder, when the schedule changes, you can easily rip out that page and just insert a new one.

What about refills?  There are two options, you can pay and get a .pdf version that you can reprint from you computer anytime you want – or you can just copy pages before you use the last one and always keep an extra.  Either way it’s easy to update this binder as your schedule and kids grow and change.

As I mentioned, this book goes a step deeper than everything I have seen.  In addition to the basic emergency contacts/allergies/etc it also has space and directions for taking care of more complex emergency needs including alarm instructions, where you keep emergency equipment (with a list of what you should have), authorization to treat a minor that parents can pre-sign and even a space to fingerprint your children and write down all children identifying details should you (I hope never) ever need that.  I am so impressed with the complete thoughtfulness and details of this book.  Plus at $19.95, you don’t have to make a huge investment for this type of convenience.

One last rave – for new parents, there are excellent information sections of how to hire a nanny or babysitter, questions to ask, even a Nanny application you can use to screen applicants.  It is really a complete go to guide that will live on parents kitchen counters for years to come – changing like the seasons and growing alongside your family.

Now the fun stuff!

Karmel Publishing is offering Strolling-Along readers a 25% discount when purchasing this guide.  Just use coupon code: BTBK7757 (case sensitive) when ordering.

Also for one lucky blog reader – you can score your own beautiful copy which we are giving away!

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: 

1)   Subscribe to this blog, Strolling-Along either via email or RSS reader and post a comment below letting us know you subscribed.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES TO THIS GIVEAWAY:

2)   Subscribe to the Let’s Go Strolling Newsletter (you can subscribe from any page on http:\www.letsgostrolling.com) and comment below letting us know

3)   Become a Fan of Let’s Go Strolling on Facebook and comment below letting us know you are.

4)   Tweet about this giveaway using your own words or:

“RT @strollingalong GIVEAWAY – Get ready to leave your kids with a babysitter:http://tinyurl.com/mxqepb“ and comment below letting us know you did.

Each time I have approached the 36 week mark, I have had this nagging feeling I should be packing my hospital bag but I just haven’t gotten around to it.  Especially if the baby you’re expecting isn’t #1, you’re pretty busy already.  

With a toddler or two running around, looking around for every item on your hospital packing list seems like the to-do item on your list you will never have time for.  Especially when you are pregnant and huge and moving is hard, letting alone bending down and digging for the right items. . . or was it just me that was bigger than a house!  What everyone really should do is pack at about 6 weeks pregnant when you are super excited about the pregnancy and before the bad nausea sets in – but I digress. . . 

This weeks giveaway is both the ultimate shower gift for any mom, whether it’s her first or third or fifth or just a life-saver for you if you are expecting.  Whether you are planning a hospital or home birth – this LaborKit™ has so much of what you need for the big day – packed neatly into one bag to make it easier than ever to get ready for your baby’s/babies birth day!

The LaborKit™ is filled with essential items to help new moms through labor, delivery, and the first few weeks with a new baby.  Designed to help you have the most stress-free birth that is possible (given that you’ll be in total pain – but I digress yet again ) and includes a Birth Plan, Hospital Bag checklist, and Share the Joy Contact List.  (What a great idea so hubby doesn’t forget to call Aunt Mary who will never forgive you for being left off the phone list!)  It’s all packed into a reusable, well-organized travel kit.  If you don’t win this giveaway – you can grab your’s up at www.laborkit.com.

We’re giving away their standard size labor kit valued at $54.95 which contains innumerable necessities including (but not limited to), breast pads,Lanonlin Cream, mesh underwear, newborn diapers, Stress Ball, lip balm, non-slip socks.

Also – I have to mention how cool this company is. They give a percentage of all their LaborKit™ sales to benefit Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Calgary Health Region Best Beginning Program.  Kudos to a company that not only makes the lives of pregnant women easier but also gives back to causes they care about!

To enter this giveaway:

1) Subscribe to our newsletter at www.letsgostrolling.com and comment to let us know

For up to 3 additional entries:

1) Follow us @strollingalong on twitter and comment on it to let us know

2) Tweet about this giveaway and comment on the blog to let us know you did

3) Comment on this blog to let us know if you’re expecting or just want an amazing shower gift!

Okay – you guessed – Let’s Go Strolling is thrilled to now be carrying the popular Sophie the Giraffe baby teether and toy. If you have a teething baby or are looking for a sweet sweet shower gift – you need a Sophie The Giraffe.

Why? Well to start out with, it is made with 100% natural rubber which is both BPA and phthalates free plus it is painted with non-toxic food paint so you’ll know it’s totally safe when your baby starts chewing on all these perfectly bite-sized limbs to soothe their sore gums.

Not only that – it has an adorable squeak so that your baby will light up with joy each time they squeeze it and know they have found their favorite toy. Plus it has a faint scent from the Rubber of the Hevea Tree so your baby will be soothed by the familiar smell of their beloved toy as well.

Besides the fact that we all love it, parents across the country have practically started a fan club for this classic toy (it’s been around for 40 years.) We knew we had found the love when our first order came in after we put it on our site and it was for 4 at once!  And, if you give one as a gift , it comes in a nice gift box with a card you can personalize.

Doesn’t your baby deserve a little giraffe love? Click here to grab one up before we run out again. . .

Sophie shown in her Gift Box

We had to patiently wait through the long dark winter but Spring has sprung and Paul Frank by Bugaboo has arrived at our store.  Although I personally think the color blocks tailored fabric for the Cameleon is just the cutest thing ever – it does require that someone have a Cameleon.  For those that want to get in on the Paul Frank action but don’t have a Bugaboo Cameleon, you can grab one of the adorable Color Blocks footmuffs or a perfect-weight-for-Spring Paul Frank Bugaboo Blanket!

Honestly, these blankets are the perfect weight for strolling on spring days with a slight chill in the air, or for summer mornings and evenings.  They are perfectly soft and cozy on the inside (microfleece) but weather-proof on the outside – perfect for those unexpected drizzles once you have already set out!  Best of all – they work with any stroller or even carseat to provide a thin layer of warmth and style for the youngest trendsetters in your family.

To celebrate their arrival – Let’s Go Strolling is offering a GIVEAWAY of the Paul Frank Bugaboo blanket ($49.95) of your choice : Julius or Color Blocks.  

To enter our fab Bugaboo giveaway follow the directions below:

1) For the first entry you must subscribe to the Let’s Go Strolling Newsletter.  Go to www.letsgostrolling.com and enter your email in the box on the left hand side bar to subscribe and complete the registration.  Comment below to let us know you did this.

2) For another entry subscribe to this blog, Strolling-Along. Comment below to let us know you did this.

3) For an additional entry follow us @strollingalong on twitter and comment to let us know who you are.

4) For another entry follow us @letsgostrolling on twitter and comment to let us know who you are.

5)For another entry tweet about it on twitter

6) Lastly, for THREE more entries post about this giveaway on your blog and provide the link in a comment below

On April 2nd, we’ll randomly select a winner and contact the winner for your choice. You’ll receive it within 7-10 days! (Please note Canadian readers can enter but they must cover actual shipping and all customs charges)

P.S. If you were looking for a Bugaboo Cameleon – now is a great time with the Bugaboo Cameleon at an unheard of sale price with Free extra tailored fabric!

We hope you’ll join the fun!

Ring on Finger

The other day at a party I commented on the beautiful pendant my friend was wearing on her necklace.  She touched it lovingly and laughed, “it was my push gift for my oldest son.”  Another friend of mine, a bohemian writer, was given a beautiful ring after the birth of her daughter.  Her also artsy husband had bought in advance of the big day at a local art fair.  She was thrilled until a few months later when the New York Times published an article about the rise of “push gifts.”  Then she was quickly horrified that she might have been the recipient of a marketing fueled push gift phenomenon.

Meanwhile my sister-in-law successfully lobbied for a gift in a little blue box which she got shortly after my niece was born.  Lucky for her the hospital where she gave birth was just a few short block away from Tiffany’s.  

Whether you think the “push gifts” are ridiculous and unnecessary or have been leaving hints all around the house in the hopes your husband will pop out with one shortly after you pop out a baby – there is no denying this gifts rise to prominence in recent years.    Do you think the new economy will “push” the trend out or is this maternal indulgence here to stay?  Are you for or against?  Did you secretly want one, scorn the idea, or lobby full force?

While push gifts might not save the planet or the economy – you can in this Let’s Go Strolling Giveaway.  Just for fun Let’s Go Strolling is offering this giveaway of two copies of the eco-friendly 1,001 Ways To Save the Earth.  To enter, just comment on this entry about what you think about push gifts.  The first one goes to a random winner – the second one goes to the entry who makes us laugh most!

And me. . . I’ve never gotten a push gift per se, but I’m never opposed to gifts of jewelry although I think my push days have passed!

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holidays, I’ve put together my list of true diaper bag essentials.  Not only will I share my hard-earned packing wisdom, we’ll GIVEAWAY one Let’s Go Strolling created diaper bag essentials kit (featuring items from this 3-part series).  Just sign up for our mailing list by clicking here and leave a comment that you signed up and you’ll automatically be entered.  We’ll pick the winner the weekend after Thanksgiving day!

I’m not only a co-owner of Let’s Go Strolling, but also a Mom to three – baby, 3 year old and 6 year old.  This means I have many years of packing a diaper bag under my belt and while I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, for the most part I have whatever I need with me when I am out and about with my little ones.

Here’s my current list of diaper bag essentials:

1)  Diaper & Wipes Holder – I love the Diapees &Wipees holder and the JuJuBe BeQuick.  Both are fun, colorful and easy to find in my diaper bag.  I know some people like the Skip Hop Pronto 

2)  Burp Clothes  - Not only is this great for baby drool, it also wipes down wet park benches, dries tears, and serves as a changing pad in a pinch.

3)  Wipes – I know this is a duh, but haven’t you ever been caught with a wipes case with no wipes.  Not pretty!  So I thought it was worth a mention.  Also worth checking out is the new Skip Hop Swipes Case which makes getting to wipes a one-handed affair.  We’re in love!

4)  A spare outfit – I had BabySpareWare when my daughter was younger – which I loved.  Now I just use a Generation Baby Handy Sak to hold a clean outfit.  It’s great because when I do need to make a change on the go – it keeps the dirty outfit in a leak-proof bag separate from everything else.  It’s also great for holding baby food or snacks separate so they are easy to find and don’t migrate all around your diaper bag.

Keep reading our blog over the next few days to continue with part 2 and 3 and remember to sign up for our mailing list now and comment on this blog to enter our fabulous “packed and ready to go” diaper bag stuffing giveaway!

Once the error was discovered, Target cancelled all remaining orders and even pulled back shipments from customers who had gotten shipping notification.  Customers were incensed that not only did Target not abide by their stated website price, but that the company made no attempt to make amends to customers who had ordered products that would never arrive due to their error.

While we understand that errors can happen even to the best of companies – it’s also nice to deal with a company that takes responsibility for their error and rewards customer loyalty.  At Let’s Go Strolling, we understand that our customers are the reason we exist.  If there is a way you feel we can serve your needs better  – please let us know!  

This holiday season, when you are looking for the best baby gifts for a new mom, an expecting family, or someone’s newest addition please visit Let’s Go Strolling for our fabulous selection of baby, new mom, new dad or sibling gifts and know we will do everything in our power to make your ordering experience just right!

Let’s Go Strolling only has one local sale (Bay Area if you didn’t know) each year and we really wanted to make it a charity event this year to help those in need during a rough year in the economy!  I’ve put some of the details below but for more details, click here to see our flyer.

Let’s Go Strolling Fabulous Annual Charity Sale

Date: Sunday, November 9th, 2008
Time: Doors open from 10 am – 3 pm
Come early for the best selection!
Address: 344 Thomas L. Berkley Way (20th and Harrison St), Oakland, CA
In the Kaiser Center Mall next to 300 Lakeside Ave,

More directions are on the Contact Us Page of our website

Bring in your previous clean, still-working stroller (including Snap and Go’s) for donation to a non-profit benefiting children in Alameda County (including domestic violence center A Safe Place and Henry Robinson Multi Service Center) and you will get a $25 credit to use towards any purchase during the Fabulous Let’s Go Strolling Sale.

Fun free raffles every hour for fabulous prizes from top brands including:
Fleurville Diaper Bags, Skip Hop Diaper Bags, Dwell Studio, Bebe Au Lait/Hooter Hiders Nursing Covers

10-70% off  Top Brand Name Strollers, Diaper Bags, Baby Carriers, Gear and more including but not limited to:
Bugaboo Strollers, Quinny Strollers, Valco Strollers, Phil and Ted’s Strollers, Bumbleride Strollers, Skip Hop Diaper Bags, Storksak Diaper Bags, BOB Strollers, Cariboo Bassinets, Ergo Baby Carriers and more.
 

This is a great time to upgrade your Snap and Go to a full stroller, buy up your baby registry items at a great price, or do your holiday shopping early! Come by, we guarantee you’ll find something you love!