Category Archives: Age 3-5

iBend™ and OccupyBaby, the perfect travel companions

Age 3-5, iphone, ,
I can’t stand it when gooey fingerprints get on my iPhone screen.  Considering the iPhone is a short term babysitter for many moms, we’ve come to expect the fingerprints.  However, I learned to expect otherwise after being introduced to iBend and OccubyBaby, two products that work together to provide moms with a few minutes of peace while eating, doing laundry, or whatever it is that we need to do.

The iBend is an ultra portable surprisingly stable stand for the iPhone and iPod touch.  The stand allows your child to play a game like OccupyBaby or watch a fun movie on your iPhone without having to hold the iPhone.  A mom’s dream!  The iBend will slide right into your wallet and at a price of just 2 for $4.99, you can affordably stock up on iBends.  Keep a few in your wallet and a few in your home.

OccupyBaby is an entertaining iPhone app for babies and toddlers.  The auto-play option is excellent for young babies and for when you are on the go.  You don’t have to fool with control buttons.  For older kids (3+) the OccupyBaby iPhone app is an educational experience with word exploration, sounds, and various language settings.  Madelyn loves OccupyBaby.
Here is a link to OccupyBaby in iTunes.

Oct. 8 Must-Have: Oilily Tights for Little Girls

Age 3-5, Baby & Kids Clothing, Guest post: TheFind.com, Must Haves, New posts, ,
oilily-girls-tights

There is a cool crisp breeze in the air, apple festival time has arrived and Halloween decorations fill the stores. Gone are cotton sundresses, it is time for dressing up my toddler in tights and warmer dresses and skirts. She has several pair of tights, but her favorites are the styles from Oilily. Oilily tights are thick, cozy and hold in the washer and dryer. They also come in charming colorful designs that look adorable on little girls’ legs. They look very pretty with fall dresses and corduroy skirts.
maryjanes

Shearling boots would be the perfect complement to these fun tights or how about a pair of sweet mary janes?

From our friends at TheFind.com.

Citizenpip Soup to Nuts kit + a giveaway!

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Contests, Food and Drink, New posts, Preschool, School, , ,

CitizenpipMadelyn started preschool this year and I was a bit of a wreck on the first Wednesday she attended because that is the day the kids stay an hour later so they can eat lunch at school. A few thoughts that raced in my mind where: what would she think about eating with other kids, they are like aliens to her, what would I pack for her to eat, and what on earth would I pack her lunch in? My first thought was to put some carrots and crackers in a couple of small ziplocks and put them inside a big ziplock and send her on her way. It’s been a long time since I sent a child to preschool.. about 8 years.

I was thrilled for Madelyn when I got the Citizenpip Soup to Nuts kit! I can’t imagine having a more perfect lunch kit for her to take to school. She is able to open the bag and the containers herself so she doesn’t have to ask the teachers for help.

Citizenpip Soup to Nuts kit

THE SOUP TO NUTS KIT INCLUDES:

* • 1 insulated lunch bag with nametag and carabiner that easily attaches to a backpack
* • 1 stainless steel water bottle
* • 1 stainless steel insulated food jar – too big to take to school but perfect for when we’re in the car traveling.
* • 4 BPA-free airtight food containers – Madelyn is able to open and close the containers.. important to her teachers don’t want to kick her out of school!
* • 1 stainless steel fork + spoon set
* • 5 100% cotton napkins – Madelyn LOVES the napkins. She uses them at school and home.

The Soup to Nuts Kit gives you lots of options for packing lunch. With four BPA-free airtight food containers, including one that perfectly fits a sandwich, and an insulated double-wall stainless steel food jar that keeps food hot or cold, it gives you maximum flexibility! PB&J one day and mac n’ cheese the next day? No problem! You can pack pretty much anything your kids want to eat for lunch. Added perks, no squished sandwiches, 1 napkin for each day of the week, and a water bottle that does double-duty as an ice pack. Included is a stainless steel fork and spoon set for spaghetti twirling and soup slurping.

Citizenpip is muck-free: no lead, BPA, PVC, or phthalates.

Where can I buy it? Citizinpip
How much is it? $55
GIVEAWAY!
Enter to win a $42 Citizinpip Square Meal Kit (choice of 3 styles) –
3 ways to enter to win!
1. Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Square Meal Kit style is.
2. Tell me a funny lunchtime story staring your child.
3. Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to include your Twitter user name in your comment so we can check! Easy huh?
Giveaway entries accepted until 11:59pm October 16th.
Coupon code: mommyinsider10 to get 10% off your purchase of $40 or more!

Citizinpip Soup to Nuts kit

Little Tikes Apple Grove Pals Farm Playset

Age 3-5, Educational Toys, New posts, Toys, , ,

The Apple Grove Pals Farm Playset includes three farm animals, Pig, Cow and Zebra, each with fun interchangeable hats. Madelyn’s thinks it’s really funny when she puts Cow’s hat on Pig and Pig’s hat on Zebra, etc.. Hilarious.

The Apple Grove Pal characters are young, which allows children to more readily escape into the world of make-believe. The Farm Playset has some exciting features for young hands, including a fun elevator and slide in the grain silo, barn doors that swing open, buttons that make farm animal sounds and more! The Farm Playset (and every Apple Grove Pals item) comes with a storybook that teaches children an important moral and social lesson, which plays an important part in a young child’s development.

One problem that Madelyn has run into is that the elevator will come out of the track sometimes.

Where are the photographs of Madelyn playing with Little Tikes Apple Grove Pals Farm Playset? Well, I took the original photographs when my Dad was in town from Florida and they are on his camera! Oops. I am going to try to get some shots of her playing with the playset later today and will post them then.

Where can I buy it? Amazon.com
How much is it? SRP: $34.99
What age is it for? Ages 18 months and up.

No Training Wheels Required – Wooden Balance Bike for Kids

Age 3-5, Guest post: TheFind.com, Toys, Wooden Toys, , ,

wooden-training-bikes

Walk along balance bikes seem to be popping up on playgrounds and parks across the country. I was first drawn to the Skuut bike because of its to the clean, modern design. My husband, an avid cyclist, has had his eye set on one of these for our daughter even before she could walk. The benefit of these bikes is that they help to boost a child’s self confidence as they learn to balance and ride a real bike on their own.

There are several models on the market and including the original design made in Germany, the “Like a Bike” (shown above, top) that has inspired similar wooden bikes. The Like a Bike features pneumatic wheels that are not supposed to scuff floors for indoor riding and are priced at around $300. It also features birch frame construction and a boatload of really cool accessories including saddlebags and a wooden wagon trailer.

The Wooden Balance Bike by Smart Gear (second from the top) priced at about $100 is the most eco-friendly of bunch. The company uses rubberwood harvested from a replenishible source, formaldehyde free glue, non-toxic paints and lacquer and the carton is made from recycled paper with water-based ink. The tires are inflatable and are PAC-free. This model also features a clean, modern design and sports a cut out handle for easy lifting.

The Skuut Wooden Balance Bike also features pneumatic tires and assembly is estimated at 10 minutes to simply attach the handlebars. Another beautifully designed bike this one comes in one style/color only. It is priced at approx $90.

I am leaning towards the Smart Gear model as it comes in a red model styled for girls and I try to buy eco-friendly toys made from renewable or recycled resources as a general rule. This one is also priced moderately. The holidays are coming up soon, so it’s best to stock up on your gifts now before they are sold out. Last year I was disappointed when the Green Toys recycled plastic tea set was sold out. This year, I vow to do my holiday toy shopping early.

Save with coupon codes for eToys from TheFind.com’s Coupon site.