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.

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 - 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.

Adventures in Potty Training: Part 2 - Potty To Go

Ah, every parents' favorite words 5-10 minutes after you leave home (or 5 minutes after the plane takes off)..."need to go potty!!"  Unless you're traveling in an RV - and even if you are - this poses a problem.   You can either ignore it - at your peril - or find a place for them to do their business.

Oh, but what about a potty seat?  Do I put it in my trunk and haul it around? No.   Here are two great options for potty-on-the-go.

Primo Folding Potty Seat

At under $9, weighing less than a pound and folding small enough to fit in your diaper bag (or handbag) this is a great potty seat.  Folds down to about 5" x 6" x 2" so fits easily in a gallon size plastic bag with none of the "dirty" side touching the "clean" side.  If you rejigger your Skip*Hop Pronto changer you can put this in the mesh section, diapers/pull-ups in the zippered section, and a small pack of wipes in the outer zip pocket, a Charmin mini-travel toilet paper in the mesh toggle pocket on the outside and you've got a full changing/potty kit.

I also like that this has handles in the front for those times when the tot needs something to hang on to or brace on (preferable not the edges of the dirty toilet seat).  This is my favorite for size, weight, price and ease of use.  All you need is a toilet.

So what if you don't have a toilet - like if you're in a park or on the highway or find an extraordinarily long line for the one working toilet at a rest stop (which looks disgusting)...here is a full potty-to-go ("flushing" included).

Potette Plus Potty On The Go

For $16, including 3 liner refills, you have an instant potty.  No toilet needed.  Refills are about $0.50 a piece so you don't want to make this your everyday potty, but if you find yourself without a toilet you - and your little trainee - will be glad you had one.

If you're in the park (or by the side of the highway) and are pretty sure that the tot is only going to make #1, then you can skip the bag altogether.  Double bonus - you can flip the legs out and it become a toilet-top potty seat.

I keep this in a Skip*Hop Saddlebag on the side of my double stroller just in case we need a potty at the park. 

Just like any potty chair it can be difficult from some kids to get used to a new potty.  I would recommend a daily in-home test drive for a week or two before you travel just to get everyone comfortable.

Adventures in Potty Training: Part 1 - My Big Girl/Boy Potty

So we're in full potty training mode at our house.  It all started so innocently about three months ago when Tot #1 was 18m old and came across a copy of Alona Frankel's classic "Once Upon A Potty."  After initially skipping through most of it, all of the sudden Tot #1 got REALLY into it.  We had to read it every time she took a nap.  And every time she went to bed.  I'll admit we - as parents - got a little into it too.  We used some WiteOut to replace the name with our daughter's and to fix the terms to be those we use (I just never grew up saying "pee-pee" and didn't really want my daughter to...).

This of course, means new gear...

BabyBjorn Potty Chair

We started with the classic.  This is a great, basic, easy to clean potty chair.  Not too high so it's not scary - at just 20 months, Tot #1 can sit down by herself on it.  The "bowl" lifts out so you don't have to carry the entire chair everytime they go.  It also has a nice high back so your tot can sit back while you all wait for his/her moment.  

We keep our potty on a plastic drop cloth that we previously used under the highchair.  Even with the best intentions sometimes you just make a mess.

We keep a basket of books, Huggies Clean Team flushable wipes, Pampers Easy Ups, and "big girl undies" next to the potty.   More on "undies" vs. pull-ups in a later post.

Bjorn Toilet Trainer

Next we bought a couple of the these seats to put on our regular toilets to get her used to the concept of going on a real toilet.  The

 hole is very similar in dimension to the aforementioned Potty Chair so the transition between the two - from a tush positioning perspective - is fairly easy.

Primo Ducka Toilet Seat Reducer

We recently came across these while on vacation and they were a big hit with the Tot.  Maybe it is because she loves ducks.  Maybe she just associates it with vacation.  Either way, if it makes her want to use the potty we're pretty psyched.  If you can put up with the goofiness factor, it is about $10 cheaper than the Baby Bjorn seat.  You just have to live with a slightly goofy yellow duck in your bathroom (a little more expensive, but it also comes in pink or blue).  But since you end up owning a potty seat either way, does it matter if it's a little goofy?  Probably not.  Besides anything that makes your kids want to use the potty is a plus, right?