Feeding

The best of both worlds: this children’s First Meals cookbook was written by a Cordon Bleu chef and mom, Annabel Karmel. It has over 200 EASY, healthy recipes for children.

I never depended on ready-made meals out of a box, from a can, or from the frozen section, for my children’s meals…these were more like last resorts. I’m sure with a little more planning and time sheduling I could have done better, as we all could! Having a treasure-trove of easy and healthy kids meals readily available would be a big help.

It includes meals for lunch boxes, dinners, yummy treats and tips for food allergies and picky eaters. This hardcover book is 192 pages and costs $19.95 at OneStepAhead.com.

My first daughter spit up a lot, and I never had enough burp cloths.  I stocked up for number two, who never spit up much.  I’ve subsequently passed along most of those unused cloths to either friends or daycare, so now I am back to square one.  This time, I plan to buy a few nice ones ahead of time, and go from there.

I am very impressed by the quality and construction of the Pony Burp Cloth set by Patricia Ann Designs.  The cloths are made from fast-drying cloth, and feature an absorbent pad to wick away moisture.  These are so much fancier than anything I had for my first baby.  I especially love the design of this pony-themed set.  The prints are very fun.

The set of three comes neatly packaged and tied with a ribbon, so it also makes a perfect gift.  You can buy a set for $29 at FlyingPeas.com.

After spending a small fortune on baby clothes, I always have a hard time covering them up with bibs.  Of course, I found out the hard way with my first daughter that bibs are an absolute necessity if you want to protect your investment in your little one’s wardrobe from spit-up and/or food.

One solution is to find a bib that is attractive as the wardrobe you are protecting.  This vintage-inspired tulip bib fits that bill.  Made in the USA,  this bib is made from cotton and is machine washable.  The design was inspired by vintage fabrics and will definitely compliment your adorable child.  I love the fabrics–this is pretty and unique enough to give as a gift.

At $20, it is a bit of a splurge for a single bib, but it is certainly sweet.  You can purchase one at uncommongoods.com.

I can’t think of many things more likely to entice a toddler to stay at the table and eat than fun cutlery like this construction set available at FlyingPeas.com.  We’re fighting a big battle with my two year old right now, who doesn’t feel the need to sit at the table with the rest of us at meal times.  Although trucks aren’t her thing, per se, something along these lines would likely be a good idea for her, especially since she thinks everything from fruit snacks to potato chips needs to be eaten with a spoon or fork.

The set includes a fork, a spoon and a pusher to help your little one master getting food onto his or her utensils.  All three pieces feature textured grips, and can be put in the dishwasher for easy clean-up of even the messiest of toddler meals.  You might even consider taking these out to eat with you to keep your little one entertained (and seated) at the table.  The set retails for $20 at FlyingPeas.com.

The Transportation Bib by Barney’s New York is just one of the many and varied styles of bibs this upscale New York clothier offers. Barney’s is a favorite store of celebrity parents such as Sarah Jessica Parker. These bibs are recommended for the layette that has everything!

The bibs are machine-washable and dryable, so even though these designer bibs are from Barney’s, they are practical. So go ahead, order 4-6 bibs, (recommended for a first-time layette). At a price of just  $15.00 each at  Barneys.com, you can afford to splurge!

Diaper cakes are all the rage these days for baby showers, and there are tons of fun designs on the market to choose from.  If you like the idea of a diaper cake, but want to make sure that you are making an environmentally-friendly choice, you might want to check out the cakes available at growinstyle.com.  What is great about these diaper cakes is that they have all the appeal of other popular cakes, but they are made completely from eco-friendly components.

The Sophie the Giraffe Cake is made of approximately 70 Earth-friendly diapers.  You have a choice between Seventh Generation or Baby NatureCare.  The cake also includes an organic onesie, an organic burp cloth, and organis receiving blanket, and a reversible organic blanket.  Finally, the set is finished off with some truly great treats–a Sophie the Giraffe teething toy (a classic European toy receiving a lot of positive press these days), an adorable Chan Pie Gnon teething toy from the same maker, a Natursutten natural rubber pacifier, a handmade dragonfly clip, and a 2.6 oz tube of Weleda Calendula baby cream, a product I myself swear by for diapering a new baby.

Any new parent will be delighted with this attractive, practical, and all-around eco-friendly gift.  You can purchase one for $140 at growinstyle.com, or check out the other great cakes available on the site.  There is one to fit any budget.

I’m guilty. I used to cut the crusts from my children’s sandwiches! It just seemed like it would taste better. The kids sure seemed to appreciate it! Now this little item, the Good Bites Crustless Sandwich Cutter, would have made the job faster and even fun. This is a really nifty tool because it not only removes the crust, but with one cut, it seals the edges (no more oozing jelly), and slices the sandwich into easy-to-handle pieces.

The Good Bites Crustless Sandwich Cutter is available in other shapes, including heart and circle, and is priced at $4.95 at OneStepAhead.com. It is appropriate for ages 2 and up. Have fun - and stop feeling guilty. You’re not spoiling them, you’re creating a geometric math lesson!

Bibs were once made inexpensively and thought of as disposable items. When you notice how stylish and exquisitely the Snobby Babies Bib is made, however, you might not want to use it at all! But don’t worry, the Snobby Babies Bib is completely washable. These couture bibs are the favorites of celebrity moms such as Marcia Cross.

The Snobby Babies Bib comes in a variety of styles and colors, including Aqua Disco Dot, Army Camo, Cream Floral, Cubism, Diasy Dreams, Pink Damask, Pink Disco Dot, and Spa Damask. You can choose your own personal favorite at Snobbybabies.com. Price: $14.00.

I like this picture. It looks like they’re holding something green from the good earth! These days moms are more aware of how their household and family products are manufactured, especially products that our children will be using. Even more so when it’s a baby product, like bottles.

I thought as long I sterilized them between feedings that I was doing the most for my child, but I could have been doing more. Green to Grow Baby Bottles are free of phthalates and bisphenol A (a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic from which most baby bottles are made). They are also free of lead and PVC. Whew! How did we survive?

It’s a little scary but it’s important to know. The replaceable nipples are also made from non-toxic, heat-resistant medical grade silicone. Comes in Beginner (slow-flow), Intermediate (medium flow), and Expert (fast flow) speeds to choose from. Dishwasher safe. Price: $8.99 at cheekymonkey.com. Be safe.

I have purchased several “spill-proof” snack cups in the past, and was not wholly pleased with the quality or usefulness.  One, which was marketed by a mainstream infant company, was completely worthless.  Food came right out of it.  The other was much better, but it didn’t hold very much, and I didn’t think it looked very comfortable for my daughter to reach her hand into.

For these reasons, I was very intrigued by the Munchie Mug.  This product offers solutions to all of the problems I experienced with the other products.  First of all, it is generously sized.  Secondly, it really does prevent spills, and finally, the fabric closure is soft to the touch, so you don’t have to worry about little hands getting scraped against jagged plastic.

There are several other things to love about the Munchie Mug.  One is that the cap snaps on to keep a snack fresh when it is not in use.  Another is that the cup is made in the USA, out of recyclable plastic.  The product is completely BPA-free, and made from 100% FDA food grade compliant materials.  You will feel good about giving this to your child.  And, if my daughter is any indicator, it is easy and enjoyable to use.

You can purchase this innovative product for $12.95 from munchiemug.com.

Classically luxurious bibs and burp cloths from Beverly Hills Burp Cloths have been a staple with Hollywood parents for a number of years, with celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Rosie O’Donnell, and Sharon Stone swearing by them.  Over the years, they have been featured on the Today Show, E! Entertainment, and in InStyle Magazine.

The company makes a number of products including cloth and disposable bibs, burp cloths, blankets, tee shirts, and baseball caps.  I like the classic style of the velour bib, with its gingham trim and monogramming.  It closes with a simple snap, and is available in either pink or blue.

These upscale bibs would make a thoughtful gift.  You can purchase a set of 3 for $39 - not a bad price for a celebrity favorite!  Check out the entire line of products at beverlyhillsburpclub.com.

What an original idea!  Baby chop sticks.  Recommended for kids 3 and up, the Combi Chop Sticks involve 3 learning stages. The first is the learning how to grip and properly use chopsticks by using the orange training bridge, the second is the removal of the orange bridge, and the third is removing the yellow circle once the child is ready for chopsticks alone.

In my case, I’d have to teach myself to use them before teaching baby or we’d have to learn together, something that could both encourage fun and enhance cultural experiences. Teach your child the history of chopsticks or other such things to add education to the mix. Not only for worldly sorts anymore, chop sticks can be used by all! Get these learning chop sticks at csnbaby.com for $11.94.

The K1 High Chair from the British company Kuster is hands down the most attractive high chair I have ever encountered. The styling is ultra-modern and hip, and the chair is made from high-quality wood. I love the beech version that we have, but the white version is very attractive too. Either will blend perfectly into most kitchens/dining rooms.The green and white cushion and booster are a great additional touch of modern flair.

I was very dissatisfied with our previous high-end high chair, but am absolutely enchanted with this seat. It was a breeze to put together, and is intuitively designed to be easy to use and store. The tray comes apart for easy cleaning, and there is a generous storage basket in the back for bibs, wipes, and/or toys.

If you need to store the seat between uses, it folds very easily and compactly. The legs are also adjustable, as is the footrest. The seat has a five point harness for safety, and the harness, cushion, and booster are all easily washable. Best of all, the seat grows with your child and can be used up to approximately six years of age.

You can bring this great modern design home for $250. The cushion/booster is sold separately and retails for $49.95. You can purchase both at barebabies.com. Use the code up10offkuster to receive 10% off your purchase of any Kuster product(s) from the site.

Tess & Winter’s fun collection of bibs, blankets, and other baby products has made them a favorite with celebrity parents such as the Beckham family, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Cynthia Nixon. It takes only a quick look to see why these products are so popular. The colors are hip and inviting and the products are well-designed.

I am drawn to the bright color scheme of this Watermelon Stripes and Dots Bib Bundle. The set includes a large bib, a coordinating burp cloth, and a pacifier clip. The company will personalize the product with a name or initials at no additional cost. This would truly make a thoughtful gift.

You can purchase the set for a very reasonable $36 at tessandwinter.com.

We don’t even use a lot of bottles, but this is the second bottle dryer that has captured my attention in the last few months. Made by the innovators at Skip Hop, this drying rack is modern and stylish. I love the red version, which would fit in well with our kitchen decor.

The rack includes a handy bottle brush, and, more importantly, keeps everything well-organized. Things can get pretty crazy with an infant in the house, so I am all about anything that helps keep little pieces in the correct place, and minimizes the clutter in drawers and on counter tops.

The design of the Splash Bottle Dryer allows it to hold all the little pieces parts like bottle and sippy cup valves, nipples, straws, etc. These qualities also make it a perfect gift for a busy new mom or dad.

The Skip Hop Spash is 10″ wide x 11″ tall x 10″ deep–big enough to hold a lot, but compact enough that it won’t take up all your counter space. You can buy one for $28 at barebabies.com.

The Skip Hop Splash was also reviewed by the Baby Gear Review blog.