Here is a great BPA-free bottle for kids on the go. We bought a few of these for our kids to take to day camp last year and they have survived quite well. They have a very sleek look and are easy to clean. The bite valve may be a little tricky for the youngest users, but it really does help stop leaks. You can purchase this child-friendly .5 liter size for $11 at evergreencanteen.com. Larger sizes are also available.

Bibs and Match is a unique, fashionable, safe, and practical idea for baby clothing. They make drool bib and onesie sets that are safer for baby than traditional bibs. The bibs snap directly onto the onesie, preventing strangulation and making changes easy. The bibs won’t rotate to the back and also have side snaps to prevent suffocation. The winner of 2008 iParenting Media Awards, Bibs and Match are also CPSIA compliant. They are made of 100% soft spun cotton using 100% non toxic water based ink. I particularly like this 3 piece boxed set, which features two bibs and one onesie. This would make a great gift for new parents. You can view all of the company’s offerings at BibsandMatch.com, where this set is available in sizes from 3-6 months to 9-12 months and sells for $30.

When my son was a baby, organic baby food wasn’t found in stores. I didn’t know to look online, however, as I was not quite as Internet-literate as a new mom as I am now that I’m the mother of a preschooler. If I had found Petite Palate’s Organic Baby Food back then, I might have given it a try. Recently I had a chance to “sample” their variety pack, and my “test group” found it to be highly palatable! Consisting of my 5 year old son, my friend’s one year old, my three year old nephew, and myself, the test panel sampled Petite Palate’s Variety Pack: Banana Peach Blend, Apple Pear Blend (a favorite of everyone in the group), Spinach Potato Puree, Split Pea, Garnet Yams, and Lentil. While the fruit flavors drew high marks from everyone, even the vegetable purees were easy for kids who are not usually veggie lovers to eat. I like the fact that everything in Petite Palate’s food is organic and nutritious, and that it’s packaged in eco-friendly sustainable 4 oz. paper cups. Created by moms who are also chefs, Petite Palate is a great way to start baby on a nutritious road that will last for the rest of his life. You can purchase the Variety Pack for $20.88 at Amazon.com.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of Phil & Ted’s. They come up with the most ingenious gear– obviously they have some seriously creative parents designing products that are not only practical but also stylish. I’ve been waiting for their Wriggle Wrapper to officially come out in stores so that I could do a review of it. This three-in-one contraption is basically a high chair, secure sit-and-play spot, and crib away from home. No need for portable high chairs or even travel cribs (though I highly recommend their travel crib, which we have used on countless occasions with our twins). You basically wrap this around your child, much like you would a diaper, and you can secure him/her either to your own lap or even chair. And what’s amazing is that the straps fit around most twin beds, creating a safe and convenient place for your child to sleep while traveling away from home.

It is machine washable and folds into its own storage bag, making it even more convenient for travel. The manufacturer says that you can use this product until your baby is 24 months old, though I don’t know if I would use the sleep feature with kids that old since they would probably prefer some wiggle room at that point. Available in both charcoal and red, you can buy this brand new product on shopphilandteds.com for just $49.99–not a bad deal for all the ways you can use it.

I really like the styles of bib and burp cloths offered by Wow Baby. They are special in that each has a patent pending liner that is reusable and helps keep baby’s clothes dry even if the bib or burp cloths gets soaked. The bibs and burp cloths are made of double layered cotton and organic fabric designed to absorb more liquid than average bibs or burp cloths. They are all made in the USA and come in a variety of fashionable prints. You can view the entire line, including the Sunrise Green Living style shown above, at WowBaby.com, where the above style sells for $29.95 for the bib and $37.95 for the burp cloth.

Everyone seems to be creating new iPhone apps these days. Here’s one that has a real, necessary purpose: Baby Brain, by Maternia LLC. Created by parents of two babies ages 6 months and 22 months, Baby Brain allows parents to time and record breast or bottle feedings, diaper changes, and sleep habits with just a tap/touch on the iPhone/iPhone touch. It allows you to email reports to spouses, caregivers, or doctors, view daily/weekly/monthly stats, and see your baby’s natural patterns. Recently featured in Forbes magazine, Baby Brain can be purchased at iTunes app store for $4.99.

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 really like this handmade Blue Flames Adjustable Bib by etsy seller heartnsewdesigns. The fact that it’s adjustable is great, as it will fit infants and will grow with them as they grow into toddlers. It’s a larger bib as well, measuring 14″ long, 10″ wide, with a 6″ wide neck opening.The style of this one is nice too, especially for boys. It’s not the same old cowboys or sports themes you often see on boys’ bibs. Each bib by heartnsewdesigns is made of 100% cotton and cotton flannel, and is stitched on the inside with a top stitch for extra durability. You can view all of the unique styles available at heartnswedesigns, where this Blue Flames bib sells for $5.

New parents are usually interested in keeping track of everything their newborn does - from how much and when she eats, to how many times a day she soils her diaper and what color it is, to nap and sleep times. It’s very important to note these behaviors, especially if you’re breastfeeding. That’s why I like Aunt LaLa’s Log by RosieBear, a company made up of two sisters who create must-haves for new moms. It’s a stylish way to record your baby’s behaviors and patterns during her first three months of life. Aunt LaLa’s Log is available in girl, boy, and generic design, in Standard format. Normally sellling for $29.95 for Standard format or $49.95 for Twins format, UpscaleBaby.com readers can purchase this innovative product at a 10% discount for a limited time only, by accessing http://www.rosiebear.com/index_files/FabulousFriends.htm and entering the code UPSCALE. (You can only receive the discount by accessing this specific page, not by going to the website and ordering through the normal process).

Kids going off to school next September? Why not start them off green?  Le Petit Travel Set- Mini Eco snack bag and Petit Sandwich bag with Napkin- is the perfect way to pack a lunch. Not only is there less waste when using reusable snack and sandwich bags, there’s also the aesthetic factor—they’re just better looking than plain old plastic sandwich bags and you get a matching napkin!They close with Velcro, so little hands can open them (or big hands, if they’re for your lunch), and machine washable. From Etsy seller evelynfields for $13, going green has never been prettier.
The only downfall I can think of? Your kids might forget to return home with them, but if you pack them right in their favorite reusable lunchbox or bag, it shouldn’t be that hard to just shove ‘em back inside!

We started our baby out with Born Free’s BPA-free plastic bottles, but I recently switched over to the glass bottles and I love them. Although I am never the one to feed her a bottle, I find that there is something pleasing about the sturdy weight of the glass. I am the one cleaning and filling the bottles and I much prefer these over the plastic bottles I use for pumping. They just don’t get smelly, which is a big plus at the end of a long day of work. They also don’t get stained if you run them through the dishwasher with spaghetti sauce covered dishes!

I bought mine at Target, but you can purchase them online at NewBornFree.com. Two 5 oz bottles cost $17.99 and the site is currently offering half off shipping.

This seems like a great idea whose time has definitely come. The Iiamo Go is a bottle that heats itself in four minutes, anywhere, anytime. Through a disposable, organic heating cartridge consisting of only salt and water, the bottle can warm itself to a temperature of 98.6 degrees F. The bottle contains no BPA, PVC, lead, or phthalates, and is made in Denmark. It is tested and approved for safety by Forbrugerlaboratoriet, security group A. Think how much easier traveling with baby could become with the Iiamo! It sells for $38.07 (which includes one 180 ml bottle, one teat, and one heating cartridge) at DanskDesign.Nu.

TinyPlayground.com is a new website that provides practical resources and ideas for new moms. It offers Mom Guides to things such as Preparing for Baby, Roundups listing Mommy and Me classes, online classifieds, baby photos, and much more. Some of its most helpful offerings include the Solid Food Chart for Babies age 6-12 months, and the Newborn Breastfeeding Chart with spaces to log wet and dirty diapers during the first week of baby’s life. To view all of the practical, useful offerings, visit TinyPlayground.com.

My son really enjoys using the MATA 4-piece dinnerware set. He finds the froggy feet to be amusing and they keep his cup pretty sturdy as well. The handles are great for clumsy fingers. As a preschooler, he doesn’t use the bib any longer but the bowl and cup can be used for ages and the cup can be used without the lid. There’s a suction rim on the bottom of the bowl that is removable for washing, though I find those things never work, no matter what they’re placed on (toys, bowls, etc.) Wash them up in the dishwasher, microwave food in them—it’s safe! A set that is cute and fun for kids but very inexpensive for $2.99 at Ikea.com.

I have an Ikea Barnslig Djur bib and it is sturdy, easy to clean, and it’s big enough to cover most of baby’s front. It’s colorful and cute, but best of all, it’s inexpensive. You can get a pack of 2 bibs for $3.99. I suggest carrying one in the diaper bag and keeping one at home for daily use. The only downfall? It’s not available at Ikea.com, but who doesn’t love a trip to Ikea?