Review: Step2 Play Up Adjustable Sand & Water Table

Tot #1 and Tot #2 love spending time outside at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  One of the great things about Grandma's house (vs our apartment) is that you can stash some great, big messy toys, like say... a sand and water table ... and it doesn't really bother anyone.  Here's what was important to our decision:

Proportions/Size
You need just enough sand to build things and just enough water (with enough built in features) to keep floating things interesting.  But not so much that it get too heavy to move.

Elevation
The older I get, the more I learn to like the beach.  But as a mom the one thing I hate is a large amount of sand in a diaper.  A classic sandbox was out, so we looked for something that could bring the sand up to toddler level, preferably with some room for adjustment as they grow.

Drains
After my experiences trying to carry and dump our first baby bathtub (which did not have a drain), we realized how critical this was for a sand and water table.  Preferably on both the sand and the water sides since the water will never stay on its own side.

Cover
My mother always raised us to be a little leery of sandboxes by explaining to us at an early age what neighborhood cats did in uncovered sandboxes.  Needless to say, we never played in an uncovered sandbox.  Ever.  As a mom I totally get it.  Because wouldn't you love to hear your toddler say "Mommy!  I found a tootsie roll in the sandbox!".

What we chose:
After looking at a lot of sand and water tables we decided to go with the Step2 Play Up Adjustable Sand & Water Table. For $59.97 (plus free shipping on Amazon) it met all our criteria in a budget friendly way without being too big or too small. We also bought some "sandbox" sand (look for the specific label) at our local home & garden store. Assembly of the table was a extremely easy (especially if you skip the extra unnecessary screws they offer).  


It is good to note, that the umbrella provides some shade, but it won't shade the whole table so plan the placement/orientation of the table accordingly (the table is light enough to move if you want to change the angle of the shade).


All in all, this has been a great buy and we're having a hard time tearing the kids away from it!

Quick Favs - Baby Gates

For the perfect baby gate I looked for three things:  very secure, toddler-proof and installation that didn't require a drill or mark-up my woodwork.

The North States Auto-Close Metal Gate (Pressure Mount) is my absolute favorite.

The gate has very solid metal construction.  The gate closes automatically and makes an audible "clink" when it closes so you know it has closed securely.  The gate itself is light enough that there is no risk of pinched fingers in the gate door.  The opening mechanism is easily done by an adult with one hand (so the other hand can be carrying a squirming baby, laundry basket, etc.).   The gate is opened by using your thumb to slide a button on the top of the gate while simultaneously lifting the gate up slightly.

This opening mechanism also adds to it's "toddler proof" qualities.  The opening mechanism requires the height and manual dexterity of an adult so even a brilliant tot can't physically do it.  It's 30" high so an average to tall adult can step over it (or a short adult who ran hurdles in high school), but a toddler can't.  The installation system is very secure and almost impossible for a toddler (or probably even an adult running at a good pace) to knock over.  So secure in fact that it is even approved for top-of-stairs use which makes it a great choice for families in houses with stairs (by the JPMA for what that's worth).

It is easy to install.  Line up the plastic cups on the wall and peel off the adhesive backing.  A few turns of each of the four "wheels" on the corners will expand the gate to fit most standard size doors.  If you want to remove the gate you can just use a little elbow grease and untwist the "wheels" and the gate quickly loosened enough to move out of the doorway. The plastic cups with adhesive can be removed from a wooden doorway with a little elbow grease (and at worst some goo gone).   (To note: if you're installing this on a wall instead of a doorway, they recommend attaching the cups with a set of enclosed screws so you will probably need to break out the drill).

The basic gate kit is adjustable to fit doorways from 29.5" - 38" wide and you can add multiple extra 1 bar (adds 3"), 2 bar (adds 5.75"), 5 bar (adds 14") or 11 bar (adds 31.25") extensions to build a gate that securely fits a doorway up to 125" (almost 10.5 feet!).

I also love that the basic gate kit is $69.99 on Amazon.com and ships for free.

Review: Skip*Hop Zoo Lunchies

The new Skip*Hop Zoo Lunchies are a cute set of soft insulated lunchboxes.  The size is just right for a juicebox/milkbox, sandwich and a piece of fruit.  This is about the right size for a toddler or young child's lunch. 

The size and shape is almost identical to the Skip*Hop 3 Bottle Bag including the interior pocket for silverware/icepacks, but the Zoo Lunchies lack the two exterior pockets.  It does feature a very handy flip-open lid (unlike the 3 Bottle Bag which only has a top zip).

Tot #1 and Tot #2 both have Lunchies to match their backpacks.  It's tough to say if they have more fun dragging them around the apartment and filling them with toys or opening them up at lunch (or dinner or occasionally breakfast) and seeing what I packed for them.  The whole "lunchbox" idea has infused some new fun into our lunchtime routine.  Somehow a sandwich is much tastier when it's shaped like a heart and stuffed in your lunchbox.  Ditto with a sippy of chocolate milk.

Thankfully - unlike the Zoo Mitts - the Lunchies are available in designs to match all six of the Zoo Pack backpacks.  In a pinch you could easily fit the Lunchie into to the backpack with enough extra room for a favorite lovie, a sack of Matchbox cars or maybe a pair of Crocs, but not - say - a bicycle helmet.  Good to note, the exterior material is identical to the Zoo Packs and easily wipes clean (as does the interior which is identical to the 3 Bottle Bag).

For $13 this is a fun addition to our spring/summer eating routine.

Review: Skip*Hop Zoo Mitts

We bought a few of these Skip*Hop Zoo Mitts (penguins, of course, and ducks) a couple months ago and gave them a good long trial before we reviewed them.  There are some things we immediately loved and some things that we immediately didn't.

We love the designs.  If you have the SkipHop backpacks or lunch boxes you'll be happy to see most, but not all of your favorite designs recreated for bathtime (if you have the kitten, bee or owl be prepared to substitute the ducky mitt).

The texture is a good compromise between soft and scrubby.  They seem to get softer with additional washing.  Other than some fading on the cotton print trim, the colors have stayed very vibrant (even when dried on high heat). 

I don't love the hooks or the price ($10 for one mitt and one hook).  Also the suction cup hooks don't stay up on anything.  Maybe they would stay put on very large glossy tile (4" square or larger) - which we don't have - but having tested them, they don't stay put on: glossy painted cabinets, enamel cabinets, stainless steel or glass.  They constantly fall down.  Even with nothing hanging on them.  So often that we stopped putting them back up and eventually just threw them away.  I would be happy to see them take the suction cup hook out of the set and drop the price a little (under $8).  $8 would still be steep for a washcloth, but it's cute and themed and if it gets Tot #1 to jump in the bathtub then I'll run with it.

All in all, these are expensive for what they are, but the actual character washcloth is nice, appealing to toddlers and well made.

Quick Favs - Toddler Friendly Seating - PB Teen Flip Lounger

Most toddlers love to horse around (yay!).  Climb up on things (eek!).  Jump off things (shudder!).  We quickly learned when Tot #1 turned 18m that the super comfy Dutalier glider and footrest were going to be forced into early retirement.  You could just see her doing the math of foot rest to glider to radiator cover to window ledge.

That left us with a big furniture gap - we needed something comfortable for an adult to sit on for snuggles or story time, but with a minimal drop and minimal movement to reduce the risks if a toddler climbs up on it.

We stumbled on the Pottery Barn Teen Flip Lounger completely by accident - Pottery Barn Teen wasn't really on my short list of places to look for nursery/playroom furniture.  One day we just happened to walk by the store, saw it through the window and were like "that's perfect!".

It is great.  It has a nice thick cushioning and a wipe-clean ultra suede finish.  It is available in navy (a bit darker than the picture above), pink, pale green and brown.  The angle of the back is adjustable from full upright (pictured) to full flat with a few positions in between.  We have ours leaned up against a wall to reduce the toddler temptation to turn it into a rocking tackle drill and it is substantial enough that she can't move on her own (but it's easy for me to pull out when I need to vacuum or fetch toys behind it).

For parents with active toddlers struggling with adult-friendly seating for a kids' room this is a great solution.

Quick Favs - First Storybook

Its hard to find a good first story book.  A book with multiple stories in it, none of which are too long or too verbose or generally annoying.  And if it could not involve Disney, Dora, princesses or Thomas we'd be much obliged.  We stumbled on The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales by Usbourne last summer while we were stocking up on books for Grandma's house and it has become a favorite (we had to buy a copy for our house too).

Written by Heather Amery and illustrated by Stephen Cartwright, this compilation includes 20 simple stories about different everyday adventures that happen to a farm family.  They are all 8-10 pages long so they are the perfect length for bedtime or potty time.  

The book also includes a CD with oral versions of all the stories so you can bring it along in the car (or use it to read along with).

Quick Favs - CARES Child Aviation Restraint System

As a family who travels a lot, we love smart gear that makes traveling easier.  We love the CARES harness (an abbreviation for Child Aviation Restraint System).  It is an FAA-certified 5-point harness that works with the seatbelt on the plane to make traveling tots safer.  It can be used throughout the flight instead of a carseat for children 22-44lbs (even take-off and landing).

We started using this when Tot #1 was about 2 and it has been great.  It weighs less than a pound, folds up into a tiny bag and easily stashes into a carry-on or purse.  We just check her car seat with the rest of our luggage and it makes getting through the airport a lot faster.


To install the CARES harness You simply slide the red band over the top of the seat (you need to open the tray table on the seat behind you) and tighten the buckle when you have it at your child's chin level.  The two black straps have loops at the bottom that allow the airplane seatbelt to pass through.  The chest buckle clips just like a car seat and "voila!" you have one secure tot (and zero car seats dragged onto the plane).

Although the lower weight limit for this is 22lbs, it may be a challenge for a child younger than 2 who may want to sleep on the plane.   If your child is under 2, it's probably worth using your car seat instead.  Check out our recent review of the Go-Go Kidz Travelmate - its a great option for making airline travel with a carseat easier.

Adventures in Potty Training: Part 3 - Panties! Panties! Panties!

I'm going to apologize in advance for the girlie bias here, but Tot #1 is a girl, so this is a panties specific post.  We are wrapping up the final stages of potty training (just nights left!) and though it was worth jotting down a primer on panties since she seems to have acquired quite a collection.  With that said, we have discovered that all panties are not created equal. 

Here is how they fit from smallest/snuggest to largest/loosest (all are 2T unless otherwise noted):

1. Potty Patty Pants
2. Gerber Training Pants
3. Hanes/Fruit of the Loom
4. Gap
5. Gymboree
6. Potty Patty Waterproof pants
7. Petit Bateau

We've tried a lot of cotton training pants (i.e. not diapers) and big girl pants (i.e. panties) so here is the run-down of how they compare:

Gerber Padded Training Pants

Pros: very soft, easy to pull up, inexpensive, available in white (so you can bleach them), unisex

Cons: not very absorbant (you might as well have them wear panties)
Price - $7 for 3 at Target

These are your classic training pants.  They are probably what our parents used.  They are very soft, white or patterns, unisex and inexpensive.  The 2T (also called the Small) ran true to size.  They aren't very absorbent, but they are very nice and a good value.

Potty Patty Pants (size S)

Pros - very soft, very absorbent padding

Cons - runs a little small
Price - $12.95 for 3

These Potty Patty Pants are available on Potty Training Concepts.  The are very soft and cushy.  The fit is a bit like a women's "boy short" style underwear and is easy for a toddler to pull on and off.  They also could hold a small almost-an-accident or a dribble-while-we-run-to-the-potty.  Our only complaints is that the tag placement is a little weird (outside, not squarely on the back) and they tend to run a little small.  We bought a size Small (24 - 29lbs) and found the fit to be similar to a small 18m size.   All in all they are the best of he absorbent "training pants" we found.

2-in-1 Potty Patty Waterproof Training Pants (size S)

Pros - easy to pull on, not crinkly

Cons - balloon-like fit, not exactly water-proof
Price - $24.95 for 3

These are also from Potty Training Concepts, but are totally different.  They are a soft, pull-on "water proof" pants.  The best description that comes to mind is "bloomers" and they run very large (a size S fit much more like a 2T).  There is also a lot of excess material that gives it a balloon like fit.  They are not as crinkly as other waterpoof pants we looked at, but then again they are also are not really waterproof.   They were among our least favorite training pants.

Hanes

Pros - inexpensive, easy to pull on, stays up well, lots of characters to choose from

Cons - not very thick

Price - $4.95 or less for 3

Hanes panties are available almost everywhere in almost every character you could want (Disney princesses, Tinkerbell, Barbie, Minnie Mouse, Hello Kitty, Nemo, etc.).  They are also available for even less without the characters (6 for $5.99 or less).  The material is thin, but they feature a nice relatively thick elastic waistband that helps them stay up and makes it easy to toddlers to dress themselves.  Although the smallest size is a 2T/3T, they easily fit a small 2 year old.  Target, Walmart and most mid-range department stores should carry them.

Fruit of the Loom

Pros - inexpensive, easy to pull on, stays up well, lots of characters to choose from

Cons - not very thick

Price - $6.99 or less for 3

Fruit of the Loom are also available almost everywhere and have some of the other characters you're probably looking for (Dora, My Little Pony, Care Bears, etc.).  They are also available in larger multipacks without characters. The fit and material is very similar to Hanes.  These also feature the thicker elastic waistband so they stay up all day and are easy for toddlers to navigate.  The smallest size is also a 2T/3T, but they also easily fit a small 2 year old.  They should be sold in the same places as Hanes. 

Baby Gap
Pros - thick cotton, easy to pull on, lots of colors to choose from
Cons - stretch out easily
Price - $13 for 3

The Baby Gap panties are available in lots of fun patterns/colors that change seasonally (which means you can also occasionally find them on sale).  The material is a nice thick cotton (thicker than all of the other panties, excluding the training pants).  The wide bands on the legs and waist make them easy to get on and off.  Over the course of the day they do tend to stretch out around the legs.  Generally quite nice.



Gymboree

Pros - easy to pull on, always a bow in the front, lots of colors to choose from, often goes on sale/promo

Cons - runs a little big, stretch out easily

Price - $2 - $4.75 per pair

The Gymboree panties are also available in tons of patterns/colors and you can almost always find them on sale www.gymboree.com.  The cotton is relatively thin, but soft.  They run a little large and have a bit of a bikini-style fit.  Using your Gymboree coupons or Gymbucks towards them makes these a steal.

Petit Bateau 

Pros - soft, white

Cons - runs a very large

Price - $12 per pair

The Petit Bateau panties are nice and soft, but they have an unusual high-cut leg (women would call panties this style "French Cut").  The fit is very, very large.  A 2t is much closer to a 3T.  This is not a great panty for a toddler.


Conclusion:
If you need trainers, the basic Gerber pants are the most economical choice, but the Potty Training Concepts padded Potty Patty pants are a great option if your tot still hasn't mastered the scamper to the potty.  For regular undies, Hanes are a great option for the petite tot or the girl who really needs princesses to make potty training tolerable.   Ditto for Fruit of the Loom if she must have Dora.  Gymboree is actually one of the cheapest on a $/pair basis because you can often double up Gymboree coupons (or Gymbucks) and sale prices, but they tend to run a little big.

Quick Favs - Baby Bjorn Light Travel Crib

In a world where the typical pack 'n play weighs 30+ lbs (which is about as much as a full bag of golf clubs), the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light at 11.5 lbs is a dream!  As if the featherweight wasn't enough - it easily folds fits in a suitcase-size handled travel bag that's sturdy enough to check on an airplane.  And better yet - it actually has a soft 1" foam mattress.  And even better - the sides are angled inward from bottom to top so its very, very difficult for a toddler to climb out of.  Wait it gets better - it unfolds itself!   It's expensive, but its so comfortable you'll never leave home without it (and you might just leave it set up in the spare room for the tot to nap in!).

Don't forget to order the organic fitted sheet too!