Category Archives: Gadgets

Braun ThermoScan ExacTemp

March 18, 2008Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Gadgets, SafetyAlicia

When Sebastian, now 8, was younger we used a traditional glass thermometer. After we broke two glass thermometers which posed a danger because of the broken glass and tiny beads of mercury on the floor, I purchased an ear thermometer. Ours is quite out-dated and when I recently received a Braun ThermoScan ExacTemp to review, I was very pleased with the features as compared to my 5 year old ear thermometer.

What makes it special: Braun’s ThermoScan ExacTemp thermometer is exceptional in that is features ExacTemp technology. To help avoid inaccurate temperatures the tip is warmed to a temperature close to that of a human body. The ThermoScan measures the infrared heat generated by the eardrum and surrounding tissues. The eardrum shares blood supply with the hypothalamus, the temperature control center in the brain, which means that changes in your child’s body temperature are reflected sooner in the ear than at other sites which is just one more reason to use an ear thermometer.

What’s included: The ThermoScan comes with protective tip covers and a protective case ensuring that the thermometer is secure when not in use. To save battery life, the ThermoScan thermometer automatically shuts off after 60 seconds. I am so tired of buying batteries..I love the auto-off feature!

More features: The LCD screen is easy to read and shows the battery level, the thermometer beeps when it is finished taking a temperature. When your child is sick and you need to check her temperature often, the memory feature comes in handy. You can store up to 8 temperatures and can access store temperatures easily. The ThermoScan is light and is designed in such a way that it is easy to hold and won’t slip out of your hand. This thermometer fits into a compact protective case that also stores the probe covers. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to buy a new pack of covers just because they got lost.. or Sebastian played with them. Being able to store the probe covers directly in the case is great!

Important note: There are at least two ThermoScan models so look closely at the details before buying as they have different features.

Icon_website2 Buy a ThermoScan at Amazon OR learn more at the Braun website

SoundSpa™ Lullaby – a must have

March 10, 2008Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Bedtime, Gadgets, Music, Nursery & Room DecorAlicia

Homedicssoundspalullaby I LOVE LOVE LOVE this gadget!
The HoMedics SoundSpa™ Lullaby is a small device that projects rotating images onto baby’s ceiling or wall and plays a variety of relaxing sounds or songs.

First and foremost, the sound quality is amazing. Never have I tested a baby device with such clear and ‘real’ sound.

When Madelyn goes to bed I turn the projector on, play Twinkle Twinkle and set the timer to 45 minutes. The projector brightness can be set to high or low and the volume is completely adjustable. Other options include no projection, playing a sound effect instead of a song, different timer settings, and adjustable projection location.
Changing options is as easy as pushing a button on top of the device or adjusting a dial on the side of the device.

Click the image to the left to view a close up of the controls.

Sounds and sound effects include Twinkle, Twinkle, Rock-A-Bye-Baby, Lullaby and Goodnight, rain, ocean, and a heartbeat. Priced at just $29, this is a must have!

Icon_website2_2 HoMedics SoundSpa Lullaby

T-mobile Sidekick Slide, LX, and iD

February 21, 2008Dad, Electronics, Fun stuff for parents, Gadgets, OrganizationAlicia

Sidekickslide_2
The T-Mobile Sidekick series offers sleek looking devices with many functions. I reviewed three Sidekick devices; the Slide, the LX, and the iD all of which have a look of their own as well as differing specs.

The Sidekick devices are all great for messaging. Texting is great for parents when we need to relay a short message such as ‘please get milk’, or ‘I’m going to be late’.I found that all three Sidekicks have superb messaging capabilities. The QWERTY keyboard on all three Sidekick devices is easy to use however, I prefer the keyboard on the LX because of its ‘clickability’. I like to feel the click when I push on a key and the LX gives that sensation. The keyboard keys on the Slide are softer than the LX keys.

One major difference between the T-Mobile Sidekick Slide and the other
two Sidekick devices I reviewed is the slide-up screen. Instead of a
swivel screen,
you just push up the bottom of the display to access the QWERTY
keyboard. The sliding motion is smooth and the screen click Sidekickid_3 s into place for a very sturdy feel.

The LX and the Slide are bluetooth enabled so you can talk hands-free and sync your phone up to a bluethooth enabled computer. The iD is not bluetooth enabled. All

three devices have a speakerphone function which I love.

While having customizable face plates, the Sidekick iD is the least feature rich of the devices. However, it includes features that I think are sufficient for social teenagers including a talk time of up to 5 hours, text messaging, email and games. The iD does not have a camera like the Slide and LX.

Overall, I prefer the LX over the Slide and the ID. The back of the LX has a nice texture which makes for easy holding while texting, and I actually Sidekicklx prefer the heavier weight of this device which gives it a more substantial feel. When a phone is too light I find it hard to hold on to. Both the LX and the Slide produce good photographs.

The Sidekick LX has a built-in music player that w
ill play MP3, WAV,
WMA, and AAC files. You can search for songs by artist, album,
genre, or composer, as well as organize tracks into playlists. To get
songs onto the Sidekick, use the included USB cable and then
drag and drop tracks from your PC to the Sidekick. Transferring songs is very easy. Other Sidekick LX features include a calendar, notepad, task list, and a download catalog.

WIN ONE!! Sign up for our newsletter using the box in the upper right column to be notified when we are running the contest and to learn how you can enter to win a Sidekick Slide!

Icon_website2 T-Mobile Sidekick Slide, LX, and iD

Palm Treo 755p review + GIVEAWAY!

February 6, 2008Electronics, GadgetsAlicia

Palmtreo755 What brand comes to mind when you think PDA? Palm. Palm is the pioneer of the PD
A industry and several years ago took the PDA to a whole new level with the Treo SmartPhone / mobile computing line.

The Palm Treo 755p seamlessly combines a full-featured mobile phone with email, an organizer,
messaging and web access capabilities in a compact yet easy-to-use device. In addition, Palm smartphones feature
a built-in QWERTY keyboard for fast and efficient data input. The keyboard, five-way navigation button and other
design features make it possible for you to get more done-in fewer steps and with just one hand. Palm smartphones
are lightweight and small enough to fit in your pocket but won’t get lost in your favorite diaper bag or handbag.

Complete with a comprehensive calendar function, email capability, web browsing, and a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture, our mom testers were very pleased with the number of functions packed into this compact device. The camera was loved by our testers and has better picture quality than the iPhone, previously reviewed on TheMommyInsider.com. The zoom function allows for easy close-ups and the brightness level, and exposure can be changed which is a unique feature as far as I am aware. The Treo 755p’s camera can very well act as your primary camera if desired. You won’t have to remember to grab your camera before your child’s soccer game anymore! If you take a lot of photographs and videos you can add your miniSD™ memory card for up to 4GB of memory so you won’t run out of memory while shooting a video or a series of photographs.

Doctor’s appointments, sports games, after school activities, and play dates can quickly be added to the Treo’s calendar with a minimal number of steps which is good for busy moms. Not only that, but you can also write notes, add/edit tasks, and record voice memo’s on the Treo 755p.

When navigating the Treo 755p via the 2.5" full color touch screen your kids will be convinced that you are the caption of the ‘mother ship’ (aka Treo 755p). A stylus is included for those who appreciate old school technology. Integrated blue tooth allows for hands-free conversations while feeding the baby, knitting, or bathing the kids.

The built in QWERTY keyboard may change your relationship with your significant other forever. The ability to send ‘creative’ text messages to your partner instantly will please him/her to no end. Text messages like this are stored in a threaded chat view so you can access the history of an entire chat in a story like fashion. You’ll be ‘texting’ like the pro’s in no time.

The Palm Treo 755p has a lot of wonderful features that are sure to make your life as a parent a little easier.

Go to the Palm website to learn more about the Treo 755p or check your cell carrier for availability and pricing.

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GIVEAWAY!!
Thanks to the great people at Palm, we are giving away a Palm Treo 755p for Verizon (service not included) to a lucky reader soon! Visit the site daily to learn when we are giving the Treo 755p away and how you can enter to win. Sign up for our newsletter using the box in the right column to be notified of the giveaway date.

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Palm Treo 755p

Baby’s Quiet Sounds™ Color Handheld Video Monitor

February 2, 2008Electronics, Gadgets, Nursery & Room DecorAlicia

Infantsummer_video1 Even when I take the kids to my mother’s house, I bring Madelyn’s monitor. When I leave her in a room alone, I want to know if she is awake or asleep, playing or crying. A monitor is simply a necessity in my life. My mother on the other hand, didn’t use a monitor when I was a baby 30 something years ago which blows my mind.

Now that I have used this video monitor for a few weeks, I can’t imagine going back to using a ‘regular’ monitor. This video monitor produces an excellent picture both day and night. During the day the picture is full color and at night the picture is black and white and still very clear. The camera tilts down and around and can be mounted on a wall, or it can sit on a dresser. Additional camera’s and monitors can be purchased which is great if you have a playroom you want to monitor. This video monitor has a 350 foot range which I love because I take it all throughout the house and even outside while she is napping and still get great reception.

Rechargeable batteries are included and last up to 10 hours when not plugged in.

This video monitor has tons of other features including a video on/off button, headphone jack, LED sound lights, a belt clip and a stand for portability. But that’s not all. You can learn more about this video monitor at the Summer Infant website.

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