Addendum to the Stokke Tripp Trapp Review

I still love my Tripp Trapp; that is not where my problem lies. It is with the accompanying cushions. After my review, we continued to use the Tripp Trapp with the cushions. Although we work on using napkins and manners, the cushions got really dirty.

I threw them in the wash and all the stains came right out. Then they went in the dryer and this is where the problem occurred. They shrunk. The cushion for the seat bottom ripped when I was reattaching it and now it can only be attached by three of the four corners.

I contacted babycenter.com regarding the exchange policy. They are amazing and processed the shipment of a replacement within 24 hours. They did not expect that the torn cushions be returned. As an aside, I applaud their trusting policy.

The new cushions arrived and I used them and washed them. Same problem. I now have two sets, neither of which can be properly used.

So, to cut to the chase, the Stokke Tripp Trapp cushions are not worth the money. They will not last past the first washing.

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Review: Green Toys Inc.

I should have a cute little sign posted on our front door that says, "Welcome to PlasticLand." When you walk in our door, you are accosted by shiny bright colored plastic spilling out from everywhere. I try to keep it contained, and I personally don't buy a lot of it myself, but if you have kids, then you most likely also have grandparents, and they just can't help themselves. They're drawn in by the pretty plastic, too. So, I guess if we are going to have to live with plastic toys, then they should at least be from a company who is taking both the health of our children and the planet into consideration. Enter, Green Toys, Inc.

Green Toys Inc. is a brand-spanking new company based in San Francisco. Their toys are made from 100% curbside collected plastic milk jugs. How cool is th at? If you're wondering if this plastic is safe, the answer is yes. It's considered some of the cleanest, safest plastic available. The energy saved in every pound of recycled plastic used in making Green Toys is enough to equal the energy in 3,000 AAA batteries, enough to power a TV set for 3 weeks and run a laptop computer for 1 month! It's safe and non-toxic and good for the environment. Can you say that for all those noisy plastic toys that are hanging out in your toy box?

Another bonus? Green Toys are made entirely in the USA! Here's what their website has to say about why this is so important.

Made in California, USA:
Less Transportation, Less Energy

All Green Toys products are 100% made in the USA. To be more specific, they are produced in California, a state known for strict toy safety and environmental laws. It's cool to buy USA, but also think about this: transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses. We all know driving less is good for mother nature, but did you ever think about how many miles a toy logs before it ends up in your local store

Our toys are truly local creations. Every step in the process, from milk container recycling to toy production to final assembly, occurs in California. Our raw materials and toys aren't shipped from overseas, which saves a lot of energy and reduces greenhouse gasses. It also guarantees your toys won't get seasick before they get to your home!

I just can't get over how awesome the concept behind these toys is. It also goes beyond simply the materials used in creating the toys. The packaging is innovative as well. When Princess Nadia and I sat down to start playing with her new toy, it didn't take us 15 minutes of unpacking to get started. There is minimal packaging to begin with and no annoying little twist ties to undo. I know you've opened toys and had your child lose interest or have a complete meltdown before you could get it out of the box. I also didn't have a pile of plastic to throw away at the end of the unveiling, either.

To see what toys Green Toys Inc. is currently making and read a full review, click on Read More!


You currently have 4 choices of toys from Green Toys Inc. There is a tea set, a
cookware and dining set, a sand play set, and our favorite, an indoor gardening set. The gardening set came with three little pots, three different kinds of seeds, a little shovel (trowel) and a cute little pod to place the pots on. This has come in handy as I've moved it from the windowsill down to my daughter's level, as it allows me to move them all at once. My only complaint is that there is no watering can for the set. We had one hanging around the house, but adding one to the set would make it complete. We anxiously check the pots every morning and are proud to announce that even with my lack of a green thumb, our seeds have started sprouting. Nadia and I have really had a lot of fun with this awesome "green" toy!

On to the official review:

Functionality **** - These toys are very solidly made. They don't seem flimsy. I'm pretty certain that the little pots

Style **** - While they are plastic, they aren't the obnoxious bright-colored toys you see all over Toys R Us. The colors are soft which means I don't mind having them sitting out on my windowsill.

Cost *** - The price tag for these toys is what I would expect for an innovative new product, especially a green one. You might be paying a little more than you would for the cute hot pink princess cookware set, but I feel like the extra $10 or so is a small price to pay for getting a toy you can feel good about letting your child play with.

Overall Rating ***1/2 - Green Toys Inc. is off to a great start. Their toys are solidly and safely constructed, appealing to the eye, and good for the environment. Seriously, what more could you ask for in a toy?

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Welcome, BOB!

The BOB Revolution Duallie stroller joined our family of Phil and Ted, Peg, Maclaren and the single BOB revolution several weeks ago. When the package arrived, I was very excited! Unfortunately, I was not able to lift or move the beast alone, so I had to wait for my husband's help. He had the whole thing put together in our living room in a matter of minutes. He noted, though, that the BOB company, knowing the ages of our children, was nice enough to have already installed the car seat adapter bar, so we don't really know how long that might have taken.

Once the stroller was assembled Lil couldn't wait to jump in! She spent the rest of the afternoon climbing in and out, placing her baby doll in the seat beside her, and pretending to go for a ride. She was also very excited when she learned that her brother would be able to sit next to her and that she had her own spot for her water bottle and snacks! When the car seat adapter bar is in place, the child in the other seat gets a plastic snack/drink holder in front of them- This feature is gone, though, when the bar is removed.

This is a head turning stroller, to be sure! We have had endless comments and compliments on how "good-looking" and "cool" the stroller is. Perhaps it is the mere size that first draws a person's eye! The BOB Revolution Duallie measures 40 inches high and 30 inches across. Since the standard doorway is just 32 inches, this does not leave a lot of room for fingers or toes which might be sticking out! As you can see from the picture the Duallie is significantly bigger than its single counterpart, and once loaded into our small SUV did not leave much room for anything else!

At 33 pounds, it is no feather when it comes time for loading and unloading it from the car either. In fact, my husband and I agree that this is one of the major reasons that we are not going to keep this beauty as part of our stroller family. We simply do too much in and out of the car, mall walking, and navigating through the busy farmer's market to make such a heavy and wide stroller make sense for us. Still, there are a number of features that the BOB Revolution Duallie has that are worth mentioning and may make it a great fit for other families.
First of all, there is the ease of pushing this stroller. Even my grandmother (that's right- that makes her my kids' great-grandmother!) noted how easy it was to push the two little ones around the block in the Duallie. My husband, who is accustomed to running with the single BOB said he had no problems adjusting to the Duallie when he took our little ones out for a run. When the front wheel is locked into place as a running stroller it is exceptionally easy to push. He also noted that even once it got moving it was incredibly stable with no bounce and no wobbly handlebar. The Duallie provided a smooth ride for our little ones even over bumpy terrain. My husband also enjoyed the "quick adjust" feature that allows you to easily tweak the front wheel to compensate when the stroller is pulling to the left or right during a run. When the front wheel is allowed to swivel, the maneuvarability of this double is unbeatable. I am able to easily steer it with one hand, which is important as I am typically lugging either bags or a kid who doesn't want to sit! The general comfort of the Duallie would be another plus. The seats and sun shades are each independent of each other allowing us to customize for our different aged kids. Unlike many other strollers the sun shades also provide truly full coverage of the seat as you can see!

Both the harnesses and the seats themselves are easy to adjust and I always felt that my kids were secure in the seats. I have a pretty tall 2 1/2 year old (see legs hanging out above!), but she seemed very comfortable and had plenty of room to grow in this stroller.
As I mentioned, we are not able to keep this stroller due to its size, and okay, also due to the fact that we already own 4 other strollers! In addition to the size there were just two other things that concerned us about the Duallie: stability going over curbs and the basically inaccessible basket underneath. Since my little ones are almost two years apart, their weights are pretty different and this seems to affect to stability when coming up or going down curbs. BOB Revolution Duallie The basket underneath, while very spacious, is very difficult to get large things into, including my diaper bag. This storage issue is partially remedied, however, with the purchase of the Handlebar Console which has two drink holders and makes the stroller a little more parent-friendly. BOB also sells a stroller diaper bag for $59 which I think would be a great purchase as well!

Ratings on a **** Scale:

Functionality ** The functionality is unfortunately going to be the lowest score for the Duallie, but I realize that this may just be a matter of preference- Our in and out of the car lifestyle means that we need something a little easier to load and unload. I will say though, that the set up and collapse of the Duallie is very easy and convenient. Just two handles to pull and a lever to yank and the whole thing is collapsed.
Maneuverability **1/2 The manueverability is very good, both in the locked front wheel and fixed front wheel set-ups. As I discussed above, the biggest concern for us was the tipping that occured when trying to get the Duallie up onto the sidewalk.
Cost *** The Duallie is available directly from BOBGear.com for $569, making it comparable to many of the other high end double strollers. The Handlebar Console, which I think is a necessity, is another $21 and the Car Seat Adapter, which actually was a necessity for us as well, is $89.
Comfort *** 1/2 We never heard a complaint from either little person regarding the comfort of this stroller. The seats recline to a variety of angles and were comfortable enough that even my two year old took an afternoon snooze or two in the stroller. I do wish that the full upright position was a little more upright, but I have found this to be the case with all jogging-type strollers.
Style **** As I mentioned, the Duallie did attract a great deal of attention for its "curb appeal". Currently the Duallie is available in two colors, the Navy and Mesa Gray that we test drove or the Mesa Orange and Chocolate.
Overall Rating ***
There are many great features on this stroller and if your car is big enough, it is definitely worth checking out!

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GIVEAWAY! - Summer Help from Olive Kids

We've talked about Olive Kids before when they hosted another great giveaway, but just to refresh your memory, Olive Kids is an online shop offering loads of personalized goodies for your kids as well as very cute bedding and room decor to create an awesome kid friendly space. The added bonus? No annoying cartoon characters! For those of you who might be a little design challenged, Olive Kids also offers a link with decorating tips and paint matching. You don't have to wait for your new bedding to arrive before you can do the painting! Very handy.

As the summer season sets in, you are probably knee-deep in activities like summer camp, trips to the beach, 4th of July celebration planning, and keeping your children reading. Olive Kids is here to help you out with this as well. They offer personalized name tags for lunch boxes, beach bags, backpacks, and camp trunks. For an extra special 4th of July celebration, Olive Kids has some very patriotic personalized placemats to help make the kids table a cool place to have to sit. The placemats are made of a heavy laminate which makes them not only easy to clean, but very durable. You will be able to use the placemats meal after meal, or celebration after celebration! Finally, Olive Kids now offers personalized bookmarks to help your little reader mark her place in whatever summer reading book she is currently tackling. I'm personally considering ordering some of the name tags to help identify Princess Nadia's possessions when she heads to preschool in the fall.

Olive Kids has generously donated a great summertime prize package to one of our lucky readers. Click on Read More! to find out what they're giving away and how to win.

Olive Kids is giving away the following personalized goodies:

* one personalized 4th of July placemat
*one personalized name tag
* one personalized bookmark

This prize package is valued at over $30 with shipping!

Do you want to win this awesome prize package? Simply go take a look at the Olive Kids website and choose your favorite style from their new personalized bookmark collection. Come back here and let us know which is your favorite, and what book your child would most like to mark his place in. Please leave your comment by midnight on Sunday, July 6th. Only one comment per family please, and you must be 18 to enter. We will pick one winner using random.org and email them. You will then have a chance to tell us which bookmark and nametag you would like, and the name (or names) you want them personalized with.

Please be certain to leave your email address in your post so that we can contact you if you win.

Thanks Olive Kids for this great prize package and good luck to all of our readers!

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A Few of My Favorite (Parent) Things: Bravado Nursing Bras

Ahh, the world of nursing bras (and big-ass boobs for those of us who are normally pretty modest in size). ; )

In fact, once I got through the hellish first few weeks of breast feeding I relished in the fact that I actually had cleavage, so much so that I actually bragged when I caught a Trader Joe's chocolate covered sunflower seed (that's seed, no shell) in between my voluptuous milk-makers....but I digress....I needed some nursing bras to comfortably hold these puppies in. Enter the Bravado Nursing Bras.

There are a lot of bras out there and I stupidly went with the first ones I came across at Mimi Maternity. This was frustrating considering their price tags. These utilized clips vs. the snaps that Bravado uses. I much prefer the snaps. The other BIG reason I hated the Mimi bras was the fact that the cup was designed in two parts, the bottom section that had a big hole in it, and the outer flap that clipped up over this bottom section. I was big, but for some reason could never fully fill this two-part cup up to where there was no sag/wrinkle between the two parts. This was so frustrating because I couldn't wear any shirt that was semi-tight thanks to a big wrinkle from the bra showing.

Click "Read More" for the rest of this post.

The three main reasons I love the Bravado Nursing Bras are:
1) They are snap vs. clip which I personally find easier to maneuver with one hand.
2) The cups are a single piece/flap, so the material lays flat under my shirts.
3) They pull over your head so I don't have to deal with clipping it in back or front, I find this design easy and comfortable.

This time around I couldn't find my Bravado's and needed a bra during pregnancy. I wanted to kill two birds with one stone and got a nursing bra vs. plain maternity bra. Unfortunately the shop I went to didn't carry the Bravados at the time but they did have a Melinda G brand that had single flap cup design that snapped open in-between the breasts (vs. on top), so I thought I'd give one a go. It was ok, better than the Mimi's but a pain in the butt to clasp in the back and just didn't feel as comfortable to me. Thankfully, the same store got in some Bravados and as soon as I put one on I remembered how much I loved them. It was night and day comfort-wise.

The one caveat I have regarding these is for some reason I have heard of people not liking the Bravados because the elastic band around the bottom of the breasts curls up. I have never experienced anything like this and don't know what would cause it. My only guess is that perhaps my build just works better with them....I have broad shoulders and my breasts are spaced pretty far apart (except for a few weeks during peak milk-making). So, my advice is to definitely try them on in your search and if it feels good only purchase one to make sure they don't curl up on you.

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Review: Uppa Baby Bubble

Sometimes when I talk to my mom about forgetting to pack one of my numerous baby "necessities" on a trip to the park or the zoo or the doctor, I stop to think about how in the world she raised three kids without all the things that I can't live without. It makes me appreciate how lucky we are to be raising our kids in these modern times where every time you turn around, someone has invented a new baby product. We have so many conveniences to make life simpler for us and more comfortable for our children. The Uppa Baby Bubble falls into this category of products that you never knew you needed, but soon will not know how you lived without.

What is the Bubble? It's exactly what it says it is. It's a protective cover for your infant car seat. It provides an SPF 50+ level of protection against the sun's harmful UV rays. It has a wind/rain protection feature and a zip-open bug protection feature as well. The Bubble easily pops open, is compatible with most car seats, and has it's own handy travel case. It's the must-have accessory for parents who like to be outdoors in the summer months with their children!

Click on Read More! to get a full review.

Functionality **** - Uppa Baby really thought of everything when they designed the Bubble. I pulled it out of the package and didn't even have to read an instruction manual to figure out how to fit it onto our Graco Snugride car seat. The design is very intuitive. At first I was worried about how warm it would get under the zip down sun/wind protector, but the sides are mesh and allow for ample air flow. When not in use, the sun protector folds into its own little zippered pouch. Very convenient. When not in use, the Bubble folds down into small flat carrying case. Perfect for throwing in the car or the stroller, just in case.

Style ** - With only one color to choose from, you won't be buying the Bubble because it looks fashionable. It's a bubble that fits over your car seat, and that's exactly what it looks like.

Cost **** - At a mere $19.99, you're getting a steal for all the protection the Bubble offers for your infant. It provides wind, rain, sun and bug protection all with a lightweight portable design.
Overall Rating ***1/2 - I'm not certain that the Uppa Baby Bubble is a must-have product for everyone, but I can think of a lot of potential uses. For those who spend a lot of time camping, at the park, or at outdoor festivals with their infant, the Bubble would be great for providing bug protection. I hate putting bug spray on myself, and wouldn't even consider getting it near my infant. Plus, the wind/rain protection would be great if you get caught out in a sudden summer rainstorm. The SPF protection is also crucial considering that its not recommended that you apply sunscreen on an infant until they are 6 months old. We use the Bubble to keep Isaac out of the sun on our walks to the grocery store and while Nadia is playing at the park. If you find yourself outside a lot during the summer months, then the Uppa Baby Bubble is definitely for you.

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Little Miss and the Search for the Missing Friend

Recently, Little Miss had a swimming class at the Greenlake pool here in Seattle. We met a lovely couple and their daughter. It was one of those things where you meet some other parents, you like them a lot, and the bonus is that your children get a long very well and are the same age. Kismet? Maybe. But it all added up to some awesome playdates for Little Miss and her new little friend and maybe some nice dinners and wine for the parents.

That is, until I, the world's worst mother, lost all the other parents' information.

And did I give them mine? No. I was an idiot.

So if you are out there, Parents of the little pool friend (I don't want to publish her little name here...but you should know who you are..I hope) Please contact me at review.babybuyproducts@gmail.com. We would love to talk to you and Little Miss would love to see your little one again!

-Laura (the world's worst mother)

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Review: Silkseas by a b sea

Nearly three years ago when we found out we were having a girl, we went out and bought way too many clothes for Princess Nadia. Everything was so cute, but I didn't give a lot of thought to her comfort. I vowed that the second time around, my first concern would be Isaac's comfort, my second, cuteness. When I discovered silkseas by a b sea, I was excited to find a product that was first and foremost about the comfort of the child, but also looked attractive, too.

A b sea was founded by Alexis Koss and her mother Rene Fail. Their signature line is called silkseas which are washable silk onesies and twosies for newborns up to 24 months. Now, before you discount the idea of silk for a child, know that a b sea has created their own unique blend of 70% silk, 30% organic cotton. This blend makes the fabric fantastically soft and super easy to wash. I threw Isaac's hooded top into the laundry with all of his other clothes and hung it up to dry. It's as soft and wrinkle-free as it was when I first put it on him.

To read more about silkseas and get a full review, click on Read More!

One of the biggest advantages that I see to a b sea's silk/cotton blend is that it is breathable and cool in the summer, but holds the warmth in the winter. I found Isaac's hooded top to be just the right weight for a cool June evening earlier this week. I wasn't worried that he was hot or cold. It's exactly the type of clothing that we need here in Chicago this time of the year when the weather can be unpredictable. I also feel good about the fact that a b seas uses organic cotton because I know that while it's a small step, it's a step in the right direction. The fewer chemicals that are used in farming, the healthier our whole environment will be.

See the full review below. All ratings are on a four star scale.

Functionality **** - The unique 70% silk/30% organic cotton silkseas are naturally warm in the winter, but still lightweight and breathable in the summer months. This makes them great for layering and also for throwing in a diaper bag to cover unexpected changes in temperature which are inevitable here in the windy city. The fabric is also 100% washable, although it does ask that you hang dry. Isaac's top came out of the wash looking like new. I was impressed.


Style **** - I love the simplicity of silkseas. The fabric colors are reminiscent of the ocean and the beach. Each color has it's own unique animal embroidery stitched on the front as well as the a b seas sandcastle logo on the back. Isaac's jacket is the a navy blue color called wave and has the cutest little walrus riding a surfboard stitched on the front. You're not getting any frilly dresses, just simple pants with either a hooded top or crew, a baby sac which has an opening for a car seat belt (very practical), or a long "onesea" with snaps. Very simple. Additionally, with the exception of the buoy pink, I feel like silkseas are pretty gender neutral.

Cost * 1/2 - The silk and organic cotton definitely makes silkseas a luxury item. However, the high quality means that you will definitely be able to pass these down to a younger sibling or friend. I'm often hesitant to pass a lot of my kids' clothing on simply because so much of it doesn't wash well. I would be 100% comfortable with sharing our silkseas hooded top as a hand-me-down.

Overall Rating *** - If you're looking for versatile, comfortable and practical clothing from a company that is doing their part to make our world a cleaner and safer place to raise our children, then a b sea is for you. The clothing may be a little pricey, but if you want something to pass down from child to child or friend, feel confident that your money will be well spent.

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