Travel Potty Chairs and Toddler Bibs - What Goes In Must Come Out

What goes in must come out

It never ceases to amaze me how such tiny little people can produce so much stuff that needs wiping, removing or mopping up. I've heard that humans are made up of 70% water but I honestly think babies are 110% puddle! If it's not coming out of one end and needing a bib it's coming out of the other and needing a pottie.

The thing is, as cute as some toddler bibs can be, they're not exactly what we dream of dressing our little darlings in are they? Personally I dreaded the moment when I'd have to cover half of the gorgeous outfit I'd chosen with a piece of terry towelling to catch the constant waterfall of dribble, even more so if we were visiting someone that had gifted us the outfit in question. Having said that, I'm well aware there's quite enough laundry without changing babies clothes even more times a day, and a damp chest is neither healthy nor attractive.

Turns out a loving and rather clever granny had similar thoughts and designed a completely new solution. The Dribblebuster is a neckerchief, it looks cool and catches drool at the same time as allowing the clothing bought for your little one to be seen and cooed over. There are even matching t-shirts for a fully co-ordinated dribble dressing solution!

It's not only dribble of course. There's, y'know, the other end. Toilet training is a time when we need to be relaxed in order to help our toddlers learn this important new skill. Of course it can be tough to be completely chilled when you're mopping up the thirty-twelfth accident of the day (seriously, where does it all come from?!) but the real hard work of toilet training is (insert dramatic music...) GOING. OUT.

Routine and familiarity are vital to a child that's learning a whole new set of rules about controlling their bodily functions. All of which goes out of the window when they need a wee outside the house and all the sights, smells and feelings are totally different to home. A lot of children find this so distressing they simply can't go and toilet training is prolonged causing frustration all round.

The Potette Plus gets over this brilliantly. These travel potty chairs are designed to be a doddle to take out and about and quick to set up ready for those urgent moments. The disposable, bio-degradable liners make tidy-up a fuss-free experience and, for bigger boys and clever girls, it turns into an already familiar portable potty seat.

Miniature Wagon Wheels

The wheel, greatest invention of all! Supposedly because it led to man being able to conquer his surroundings but for me it's the sheer joy and health benefits they bring to young children that make me want sing their praises (another round of "Wheels on the bus", anyone?).

Until I saw a Wheelie bug I despaired of ride-on toys. There really is only so much primary coloured plastic an adult can look at without feeling one's eyes are being assaulted by a box of crayons. Also, most have fixed wheels so can only travel back and forwards meaning you spend a lot of time rescuing frustrated little people that get themselves stuck in corners. Not entirely getting the 'promoting independent movement' part there, are they?

Someone out there clearly felt my pain because they came up with gorgeous looking ride on toys that have castor wheels. These cute bugs (the mouse and tiger are my favourites!) can go in any direction, including in circles, meaning tiddlers legs get great all-round exercise as they have fun gaining independence of movement, balance skills and frustration-free problem solving when they inevitably scoot themselves into a corner.

From things they ride on to things they can ride in. One of the most iconic images of childhood in the USA is the Radio Flyer Wagon and even if the name isn't immediately familiar I bet you know the one I mean. Bright red with a black handle and the Radio Flyer logo in white along the side, it comes in wood or metal (and more recently, plastic) and usually has a cute kid pulling his or her favourite toys along behind him as they all go on an adventure in the garden. They've been a staple of American family life since the #18 Classic Red Wagon was first produced over 70 years ago.

They were first used on Fire Island, New York. No motorised transport was allowed on this holiday isle so in order to get belongings from the ferry to the accommodations people used the Radio Flyer Wagon. Proving itself strong and stable it soon got pressed into use for grocery shopping and moving heavy objects around, not to mention kids who would jump in for the ride at every opportunity! They now come in many sizes, all the way down to a miniature wagon which is perfect for kids of up to 90 years!

Activity Play Mats - Back To Sleep, Front To Frolic

Back to sleep, front to frolic!

We all know that the safest way for our babies to sleep is on their backs but this doesn't mean they have to miss out on tummy time fun. In fact it's vitally important for their development that they spend some waking time each day lying on their front as this plays a big part in them learning to roll from side to side and strengthening the muscles they need for crawling and then walking.

Gone are the days when a folded towel on a changing mat was all a baby could look forward to dribbling on when placed face down, there's now a huge choice of infant playmats and babygyms to keep them entertained and stimulated.

The older style plastic A-frame with mirrors, rattles and teddies dangling from it was okay for little ones that could roll over to reach up to the treasure but not much good for younger ones tummy time, nor were they very interesting when face-down, let alone portable.

Let's face it, there's quite enough stuff to cart around when visiting people with baby; fourteen plastic poles and some dangly things just don't fit in the nappy bag! This meant poor bubba was often relegated back to the folded towel on the changing mat when the family spent time at Grandparents or friends houses.

The newer generation of playmats are much nicer. Cosy padding makes it much more comfortable for even the youngest infant and there are all kinds of interesting, tactile things to keep them interested while they learn to lift their heads for longer and then go on to support themselves on their arms before, well, before you then have to start shopping for safety equipment as well as fun stuff!

Not only are they nicer, the better ones fold up to be easily portable so you can rest assured your little one will have somewhere safe and familiar to spend time when all the cuddling and cooing of granny's or aunties gets a bit much for them.

Personally I think the best of the bunch are the Ladybird Activity Play Mat with its supersoft padded collar, babysafe mirror that can be placed just out of reach to encourage crawling and teething attachments and the Wiggle Worm Travel Activity Gym. With it's soft padded base, interesting tactile dangly things and gorgeous bright, stimulating colours this is definitely preferable to the old plastic A frame jobs!

How To Avoid Baby Bath Backache!

Bathing your baby is the best beginning to a calming bedtime routine and you can never start too soon. If you think about it, newborns have just come from a warm bath that lasted nine months! Of course we then put them into a huge bright space with an inch of water in the bottom and they don't enjoy it at all. In fact, a lot of them scream the place down and bathroom acoustics are very unforgiving on grown-up ears when babies scream, take it from me!

There are lots of nifty things around to help make bathing easier as little ones grow, from full length supports that hold them snugly as they lie back to seats that stick to the tub prevent slips and topples. These are absolutely great for older bubbas that have learned to love their nightly splash (also known as the soak mum/dad session in my house!) but sadly, no good for tiny infants.

The other pain, quite literally, is “baby-bath-backache”. I've known occupational therapists to gasp at the positions we adopt to keep our slippery newborns safe in the water. It's bad enough for even the strongest back to be bending over at a strange angle using both hands to support and wash a baby - any woman that's not long given birth will tell you it's agony and there's no gas and air available!

Thankfully, some clever genius has devised some baby bath sets that solve all these issues. It's called a Tummy Tub, it's shaped like a womb and holds baby in the foetal position with water up to the shoulders. Sound familiar? It'll feel even more so to a newborn, even low birth-weight or premature tinies can enjoy it, all it's missing is a heartbeat and the occasional tummy gurgle! The smart shape means baby is cocooned totally in water but it actually uses less than a standard baby bath, making it much easier to handle even when full and very eco-friendly. There's even a stand that lifts it to the perfect back-saving height then turns into a step as baby turns into independent toddler then a box for them to store their treasures in after that.

And staying with the theme, what about Clevamama baby bath towels.  Suitable from birth to two years, this fabulous piece of kit fastens around Mum's neck like an apron, keeping her dry and allowing her to lift her baby or toddler out of the bath with two free hands.  The special hood goes over baby's head to retain warmth whilst the gentle absorbent fabric dries any excess moisture - even from awkward nooks like between the toes.

Two recent additions to the plethora of baby bathing equipment out there but these items have won awards and make you wonder why someone didn't think of them years ago. Maybe because we were all busy clinging to slippery babies and then holding our aching backs...

Toddler reins, baby leash? What a pain, give me peace!

You know why they call our lovely mini-people toddlers? Because that's what they love to do most! Toddle around on their unsteady legs, first practising staying upright then fast gaining speed and agility until before you know it they're out of your sight and you're going out of your mind!

I recall being in a shopping arcade once and calling “watch out!” to a cute padded-anorak wearing toddler that was on course to run - full pelt, arms flailing and all - into the path of a mobility scooter. It was only when I looked down at the baby leash in my hand - and more to the point, the very empty other end of it - that I realised I'd have been better off calling the child's name. Yes, he was my mini-person and yes, he'd learned to loosen the grip on his wrist strap. The chest fastening harness I had didn't fit over his winter coat and there really wasn't a great deal of choice in reins or leashes around at the time. Not that that fact made me feel any less guilty of course, nor any less panic-stricken as I thought of all the even worse situations we could have been in when he broke free and ran like a wild stallion.

Baby reins are an absolute essential when it comes to letting youngsters enjoy their legs whilst keeping them safe at the same time. The trouble is a lot of toddlers just don't agree and let's face it, who wants a nice trip out to begin with a tantrum or upset? Even if you can get a safety rein on without too many tears (be they your child's or yours!) children are clever little monsters and will (believe me on this!) find a way to slip out the very second your attention is diverted by paying a cashier, digging a sippy cup out of your bag or checking the traffic before crossing a road.

So what would the ideal baby reins be? Well for a start, something children actually wanted to wear! Secondly it would need a strong leash attachment that was child “evil genius” proof. And if I were really going to ask for the moon? I'd want them to be able to carry some of their own stuff around and make it much more accessible for those urgent moments in the middle of outings when only that particular green sippy cup or silky edged blankie is good enough!

Luckily, mums these days have just such a thing (well, not only lucky but a good job being as those mobility scooters seem to be everywhere now!) I've seen the cutest plush animal backpacks that have a safety leash attached as the tail. Kiddies love wearing a cuddly monkey, bear or unicorn on their back with all their own favourite toys, drinks and snacks inside while Mum gets to hold onto the tail that's cleverly attached out of reach of little hands and know that riders of motorised wheelchairs need not worry about escaped toddlers!
I do believe the baby rein just stopped being a pain!

Tester Post from the New Baby Bluebird Blog

Is this working via networked blogs?

Things I would never say as a parent.....(oh yeah.....)

(First published Times Online, October 20, 2009)

9 things I swore I would never say as a parent

Reading Expat Mum's list about Things I Say All the Time (including "sit down, you haven't finished eating" and "there are two types of vegetable on your plate, pick one and eat it") reminded me of all those things my mother said to me that I vowed I would never subject my kids too.  Ha ha.  That's one of the joys of being a parent - you can change your mind because you set the rules.

1. I'm going to count to three...: And then I actually do it. I actually do.

2. Come on or I'm going without you:  This one has limited shelf life.  Once my daughter realises that I can't go to school for drop-off without her, the jig is up.

3. If I have to tell you one more time...:  I never finish this one.  If I did, it would go, "If I have to tell you one more time, I'm going to give up, go pour myself a glass of wine and read my novel and you can stay up all night for all I care."

4. Because I'm the mum:  It's incontrovertible, this one.  But necessary in emergencies.

5. Where did you leave it?:  This one works for both children and spouse.  Invariably the answer is, under something, in whatever part of the house is least convenient.

6. Three more bites and then you can get down from the table:  Admittedly this was a tougher edict when I was growing up - the vegetables were likely to be overcooked okra, iceberg lettuce or a horrific "vegetable medley".

7. I don't like this attitude, young lady:  Always with the attitude.  Bad attitude may win you a music deal or a reputation as the bad girl of the art world, but around the family dynasty, it cuts no ice.

8. This place is a pigsty:  This one - unfortunately - can also apply to my bedroom, because deep inside I still harbour my own teenage illusion that clothes somehow hang up themselves.

9. What's the magic word?:  Good manners are good and well, but I'd be better preparing her for the real world by teaching the magic phrases, which include "I'll be calling my solicitor", "I need it in writing" and "I'd hate for the press to get hold of this".

Source: TimesOnline