I have to confess that I’m not the most zaelous bather of my children. In the summer, however, you just can’t get away with too much space between baths. Even reluctant bathers, however, are sure to enjoy these fantastic soapsicles from Bath & Body Works. Available in all kinds of fun colors, they area perfect summer treat. Although the usual retail is $7, they are currently on sale 2 for $10. You can purchase them in stores or at BathAndBodyWorks.com.

It’s amazing how many products you begin to accumulate in the medicine chest as soon as you have kids. That’s one of the reasons I like this multipurpose Derma-E Tea Tree and E Antiseptic Creme. With its pleasant tea tree oil scent, this cream calms skin without overwhelming the nose. You can use it on dry irritated skin, burns, diaper rash, you name it. It is easy to apply and isn’t greasy. Its eco-friendly formula is safe for use on kids of any age. You can purchase a 4 oz jar for $7.49 at LuckyVitamin.com.

Now you can bring your child’s love of books to the bath tub with this fun set of Eric Carle bath squirters. The five piece collection includes familiar favorites like the Very Hungry Caterpillar. We have a lot of Eric Carle books, games, and stuffed animals, but these are a new discovery. They look like a lot of fun; they’d even make a great pool or water table toy this summer. You can purchase the set for $9 at KidsPreferred.com.

I really like this Organic Sleepy Time Baby Gift Box by GrowInStyle.com. While the price might be a bit much for an average baby gift, at $164, it would be perfect for a family member or best friend who just had a baby. The gift box includes an Organic Cotton Hooded Towel by Kate Quinn Organics, Organic Cotton Sleep Sack by Ceewee Baby, Organic Cotton Monster Wash Mitt by Bebop Baby Shop, Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Angel Baby Oil by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Rainbow Baby doll from Kathe Kruse, and a sleepy time book, Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carole Schaefer & Vanessa Cabban. All of this comes packaged in a 100% recyclable gift box, wrapped with recycled gift wrap, recycled ribbon, and a lead-free pewter charm. Just thinking about these wonderful sleep-inducing gifts makes me want to curl up and take a nap! You can view this gift box at GrowInStyle.com.

New parents often track everything their newborn does, from when he feeds and how much, to when he sleeps (and how much), to when his diaper is changed. But moms of older babies and toddlers might want to track their activities as well. Time Too has invented the Baby Tracker, a journaling system that monitors baby’s activities and schedule. It helps parents determine if their child is eating enough, sleeping enough, and the time that they took special supplements or medicine. There’s a list of to-do items, a place to record milestones, and an area for special notes. It also includes reference information, keeping health facts and resources in a central place. The Baby Tracker sells for $19 for the basic childcare record, with options to buy refillable trackers and packages at a higher cost. You can view the Baby Tracker at TimeToo.com, where they also sell a Family Tracker for families with school-age children.

I am a big fan of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Cleaning products. I always get excited when a new scent is released, and sad when some of my favorites are retired. So, I think it is pretty neat that the company has branched out into baby essentials. For $34.99, you can sample the collection, which includes hair and body shampoo, baby lotion, diaper balm, lip and cheek balm, and a bath mitt. Everything is Earth-friendly and cruelty-free. it would make a great gift. Unfortunately, it is only available online. You can purchase it at mrsmeyers.com.

Here’s the perfect baby shower gift for an environmentally-conscious mom: an Eco Friendly Diaper Cake. Made by Diaper Cakewalk, this diaper cake features 40 Seventh Generation chlorine-free disposable diapers in size 1, Burt’s Bees all natural luxury baby care products, and an elephant made from all-natural cotton and colored with vegetable dye. It’s a useful, practical, and earth-friendly gift. The diaper cake comes in two sizes: three tiers (containing 40-45 diapers) for $79 or four tiers (containing 70-75 diapers) for $109. You can view and purchase this great gift at DiaperCakewalk.com.

In order to promote their line of baby body care products by JASON, Earth’s Best is offering a free trial promotion. If you buy $15 worth of Earth’s Best products, you can send in your receipts and labels and get this cute little travel kit.

My little one is getting ready for solids, and Earth’s Best is the only brand I buy, so I know we’ll  have no problem collecting $15 in receipts. I’ve previously used the diaper cream and liked it, but I’m excited to try the rest of the collection. You can get all of the details at earthsbest.com.

Though baby bath seats seem pretty practical and safe to me, my husband hates using them. He is the main bather of babies in this house and he thinks that it is difficult to wash the baby when he is inside our seat and it is a pain to get baby in and out of it. However, the Dreambaby Tee-Zed opens in the front (on the toy bar) making it much more simple to get baby in and out. I imagine that would make washing baby a bit easier as well. Open, wash, close and let baby play. On sale for $19.99 at HappyBabyStore.com, it’s an improvement on previous bath seat designs.

Recently I was introduced to a new concept - cologne for babies! I wasn’t sure how I felt about the idea, then I found a bottle of Para Mi Bebe Cologne. On the back of the bottle it directs the user to use after baby’s bath, sprinkling a small amount on hair and head. It claims to give baby a fresh smell all day long. This might not be a bad idea for some, but I’m against anything that takes away that natural, just-bathed baby smell. Plus, when I looked at the ingredients, they are: Ethyl Alcohol, Water, Fragrance, and all sorts of artificial colors and things I’ve never even heard of. I’m not sure how safe this would be for baby; it isn’t made in the United States but rather Spain so I don’t know that they adhere to strict standards. If you’d like to sample some yourself, you can visit bestbagsonline.com, where the PMB Cologne sells for $12.30 for a 25 oz. bottle.

Here’s a fun beach towel that is the perfect size for infants and toddlers. Made by Pottery Barn Kids, it features a great fish print that works well for both boys and girls. Velour on one side and looped terry on the other, this towel is luxuriously soft and absorbent. The bold colors will definitely stand out at the pool or beach. You can purchase one for $16 at potterybarnkids.com. Have it personalized for an additional $6.50. Your little one can continue to use it for bath time fun even when the warm weather ends.

A Yeni is a patent pending, decorative apron that can be worn by parents who are bathing (or feeding) their babies or toddlers, to keep their clothing clean and dry; or by pet owners, when bathing a pet. This is a neat idea that I’m surprised no one thought of before. We all know how wet parents can get when trying to bathe baby - sometimes it seems like you’ve taken a bath, too! The bottom part of the apron is a towel, to help dry baby at the end of bath time. The Yeni comes personalized with your name (or your child’s name, if you prefer) or plain, and is available in a variety of colors/styles. You can view the Yeni at Yeni.com, where you can purchase it for $40 with personalization ($30 without). It would make a unique gift.

Here is a way to bring a whole new level of fun to bath or pool time. These Monster Towels from Yikestwins are as cute as can be. They are designed for kids from 2-8, and cut generously, so you will get a lot of use out each towel. They are made from 100% cotton, so they are super-cozy, and they absorb water well. We have some similar animal towels that are a favorite at our house, but these are far cuter. You can purchase one for $38 at ittikid.com. One of these would make a fun gift too.

I bought one of these Mommy’s Helper Safer Grips for our bathtub about a year or so ago, to make it easier for my son to get himself in and out of the tub. It works well; the only problem I have with it is that the suction cups on the bottom of it that are supposed to adhere it to the bathtub sometimes don’t stick, and the entire grip can come off in your hand. I’m often repositioning the grip, and I don’t rely on it any more to hold my son’s full weight when he gets in and out of the tub. Maybe it depends on the type of material your tub is made of, and maybe it sticks better to some than others. If you want to try it out for yourself, it’s $13.08 at Amazon.com.

While surfing the Internet today, I came across something I’d never heard of before - a Diaper Wreath. Of course, I know about diaper cakes, but a diaper wreath? This was something I had to see. I soon discovered that there are many crafters selling diaper wreaths, as baby shower items, gifts, and as a way to announce a new arrival. They vary wildly in price, from an elaborate one like the Lion Safari Double Wreath (above) by “Nancy” for $95, to some that are a bit more reasonable, like one on MyKidsCloset.com selling for $35. You get what you pay for, however, as the Lion Safari Wreath not only includes 45 Pampers Swaddlers diapers but also a Carter’s bib, socks, teethers, onesie, medicine dropper, aspirator…the list goes on and on. Basically it contains everything new parents will need when they bring that little bundle of joy home from the hospital. The smaller one that is $35 contains some of the same items, just not in the same quantity. I think this is a wonderful idea for a baby shower gift or a gift for new parents. Not only is it functional, it’s also very attractive!