See Kai Run, Shoes for your Little One

What great shoes I have found! See Kai Run, with stylish and hip designs, will definitely give Pedipeds a run for their money. These shoes were created by a mom, who was looking for comfortable and flexible shoes for her son, Kai. She developed a great shoe, that is healthy for your little one's feet.

See Kai Run shoes have extremely flexible rubber soles that move with your child's foot. The rubber provides enough support that you don't need to worry about your child playing outside, as you would with other soft soled shoes. The sheepskin, buttery soft leather is more durable than other material and will hold up to even the most toughest players out there! These shoes have a breathable liner and a padded collar that adds comfort. They are very easy to get on and off, with a Velcro closure. The APMA has provided their seal of acceptance to these beautiful and "healthy" shoes. These shoes are also available in soft soles for your little ones that are not walking yet. These shoes are competitively priced, most shoes being between $30 and $40.

See Kai Run has partnered with Soles4Souls and has provided thousands of shoes to children in need.

Infant Cruizer

I know that everyone out there struggles with carrying their infant carrier. It can be so heavy and awkward, especially when you have your diaper bag. GoGo Babyz has come up with an innovative, safe and functional Infant Cruizer.

It is great, I love it and wish I had it 11 months ago when my little one was born. Everywhere I went with this I was asked where I got it! Your infant carseat clicks right in and off you go! It has all terrain, airless tires and maneuvers so well. The convenience of the Infant Cruizer is unbelievable. It folds up so you can put it in your trunk and unfolds again with ease. You only need one hand to fold, unfold and click your baby right in, you can take it anywhere! This product grows with your child as well. You can buy a toddler seat adapter for the Infant Cruizer. This is great for air travel. When you have bought a seat for your toddler and want him to be safe in the seat, but lugging that big car seat around is such a hassle. The Cruizer takes care of that, just click and push away, right to the gate! This great product is also JPMA certified.

I do wish it was not as expensive though. At $149 it may not be affordable enough for most parents. However, if you plan to purchase the toddler adapter later on, it may prove to be a great investment. Another issue that I had with this was that it was so low to the ground. I often brought it with me to the grocery store when I just needed to run in. I was very worried that someone would not see my little one and run right into her with their cart!

Overall, I think this is a wonderful product and would strongly recommend it!

BestEver Baby Mats

Are you looking for a soft mat for your little one to have tummy time on? I have come across this great product, Baby Mats by BestEver. They are plush mats that look like animals and are super soft. They are large enough for your little one to have wiggle room, 31", definitely large enough for even the larger baby! Your little one will love to have tummy time on this big baby mat, playing on the Big Blue Dog or the Cuddly Giraffe! It also has a non-slip back for those of you that may have wood or tile floors. Check this site out, there are many other great products that they have to offer. As for price, at $41 I think it is a bit pricey, however, it would make a great shower gift or even Christmas present-it is something that is unique and maybe would be overlooked if you were buying it for yourself.

GreenGuard

I have had the great pleasure to be in contact with a wonderful woman, Hilary Abbott, who has been able to send me so many products to review. She has introduced me to the GREENGUARD Certification program. I wanted to try and sum up her words, but she tells it best.

"Children spend about 85 percent of their time indoors, where the air is
two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air. As a result, they face
long-term health risks due to indoor air pollution. The source for these
pollutants come from a variety of products in our homes and schools such as
furnishings, flooring, electronics, window treatments, mattresses, cleaners and
paints.

With increasing concern over pollutants and their impact on
children’s health, the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification Program
offers a solution to parents concerned about the indoor air quality of their
homes and in their children’s schools. The GREENGUARD Children
& Schools standard is overseen by the GREENGUARD
Environmental Institute (GEI), an industry independent, non-profit organization.
The Institute’s mission is to improve human health and quality of life through
programs that improve indoor air, tests and certifies indoor products based on
strict chemical emissions criteria.

The GREENGUARD
Children & Schools certification mark can be found on more than 110,000
products produced by over 100 manufacturers.

Given the growing awareness
of harm from indoor air pollutants, the GREENGUARD certification program is likely to be of interest to your readers. "

If you visit the GREENGUARD website, you can search for products that are certified. There are so many, and they must be tested annually! I am so happy that this non-profit organization is gaining recognition and that more and more products are becoming certified. You can also check out the different certification programs they have here.

Great Food Pairings

I was reading October's issue of Parents magazine and I came across a little article that I think many of you will find helpful. This article gives 4 examples of food that when paired together, they become more nutritious. Apparently, certain vitamins and minerals feed off of each other and become more absorbable. The following pairings sound very yummy:

1. Strawberries and whole wheat toast-The vitamin C in strawberries converts the iron in the whole wheat toast to a form that cells can absorb.
2. Oatmeal and milk-The magnesium in oats increases the amount of calcium your little one gets from the milk by keeping it from binding to fiber and other nutrients.
3. Olive oil and veggies-Spritz spinach, green peppers, squash and other dark greens with olive oil. This healthy fat helps your little on absorb the veggies' antioxidants.
4. Chicken and carrots-Everyone loves chicken noodle soup, don't just save it for when your little one is sick. The zinc in chicken helps the body metabolize the carrots' vitamin A.

Happy eating!

Organic Dreamsie by Kiddopotamus

When my little one was first born, I loved putting her in those sleeper bags for bedtime. I was comforted by the fact that even though we were not using blankets, she was kept warm in her little sleeper bag. That is just how our reviewer felt about the Dreamsie by Kiddopotamus.

The Dreamsie, by Kiddopotamus is an organic sleeper bag that comes with an adorable sleep cap. It is made from 100% certified Organic Cotton. Everyone knows how I feel about Organic products, so this item couldn't make me happier! This Organic Cotton Knit is ideal for your little one's sensitive skin.

It is a great alternative to blankets, when you know that blankets are big "no no" but you want to keep your little one warm during the night. It is safer than loose bedding and keeps your baby safely covered and cozy.

The Dreamsie even makes for easy diaper changes, with its' full length zipper. Don't worry, the zipper has a cute little star tab that closes over it at the top to keep the zipper from poking your little one!

Kiddopotamus products can be found at Babies R Us and Target. You can get the Dreamsie for "a well worth it" price of $24.99.

Simplicity Crib Recall

Simplicity has voluntarily recalled about 600,000 units of their drop side cribs. If you own one of these cribs, you should stop using it and visit the recall website. Due to hardware sizing problems, the drop side of the crib can come off the track. When this happens, a gap is created which could cause entrapment or suffocation. Check the website to see a list of model numbers, stores the cribs were sold at and to get more information (including contact numbers).

Hoohobbers...What? Hoohobbers!

What is a Hoohobber you ask? Hoohobbers produces "unique speciality products for Baby & Toddlers." I am specifically going to talk about their diaper bags. These bags are a stylish modification to the every day diaper bag. They have over 40 different designs in 3 different styles; the messenger bag, the tote and the backpack. You can even get these bags monogrammed for an added $12 (which gets you free shipping).

These bags are not only stylish, they are functional as well. They are made out of denier nylon, which makes them tough and durable. The bottoms are reinforced and the sides & pockets are lined. These bags come with the standard changing pad, as most bags do. There are 3 open bottle pockets and 1 zipper pocket across one side. What could make this bag better? It is machine washable! When they say machine washable, they mean it. I did not find any fading or fraying when I washed this bag.

There are two things I would change about my messenger style bag. First, I would make the strap longer, or at least adjustable. Second, I need more room. There could be more pockets and it definitely needs to be "expandable." It is great for a quick stroll or trip to the mall, when you don't have to pack everything!

Overall, Hoohobbers has great products and I would recommend the diaper bags. I love the style and got many compliments. It is competitively priced at $70 and if there are other things at their site you like, spend over $75 and get free shipping. And for all of you Chicago parents...this product is made right here in Chicago. Gotta love local products.

China Recalls Baby Formula

The New York Times published a story yesterday about the Chinese manufacturer, Sanlu Group, a major producer of baby formula. They are recalling 700 tons of its baby formula after it was learned one baby died and kidney problems in at least 50 others. The formula is tainted with the same deadly chemical, Melamine, that was found in dog food earlier last year in the United States. The Chinese police believe that the formula was diluted with water to increase volume and then Melamine was added to disguise the dilution. The FDA has said that no formula from China has been approved for import. However, this formula may have been sold illegally in ethnic grocery stores in the United States.

Upcoming Reviews

I have several reviews in the works, so be sure to look out for them in the coming weeks.

• See Kai Run Baby Shoes
• Amy Michelle Diaper Bag
• Bebe Au Lait Nursing Cover
• Best Ever Baby Mat
• Infant Cruizer
• JJ Cole BundleMe
• Kiddopotamus Dreamsie