I have owned the LEGO Quatro and Duplo blocks ever since my oldest son turned a year old. Not a day goes by that my two boys don’t play with these building blocks. These kids just love to build things and stack blocks! We have also used these blocks when learning about colors and relationships, such as bigger/smaller and over/under.

The LEGO Quatro blocks are the largest of the LEGO series of blocks, intended for ages 1-3. These blocks are made of a softer material than standard LEGOs and are very easy for small children to grasp. Because of their size they do not pose a choke hazard like some of the smaller LEGOs do with very young children. The LEGO Quatro Bucket comes in a see-through bucket with 20 colorful various-sized blocks and a lid that can be used as a building base.

On the other hand, LEGO Duplo blocks are for the slightly older child, age 2-5. These are compatible with the LEGO Quatro blocks – as children grow they can connect elements from both sets using a 4-stud Duplo brick as a connector. The Duplo sets also come in several different varieties such as Thomas the Train, Dinosaurs, and Zoo Animals.

I highly recommend these LEGO sets for younger children, as they really stir the imagination and provide hours of play and creativity!

Popularity: 20% [?]

I have been using The First Years Take & Toss Straw Sippers ever since I realized that my son still couldn’t manage to handle a regular cup, but was beyond the sippy stage. My son first experience with a real cup ended up in spilled fruit punch all over my light gray carpet, and to this day a big pink stain remains right in front of the stairs on our way to our bedrooms. These convenient and inexpensive cups have saved us from living with anymore similar stains. They are durable to use over and over, in fact I have had mine for almost a year now. Yet they are inexpensive enough that you could treat them as disposables if you like. These cups come with lids and straws which limit the amount of spilling that occurs. I even use regular plastic bendy straws with these cups for even more added convenience. The only time any liquid comes out is if they completely flip the thing upside down, and even then only a few drops come out, which is better than having an entire cupful of liquid to clean up. I travel with these cups to restaurants, soccer, grandparent’s homes – you name it, they come with us.

The First Years Take & Toss Straw Sippers are compatible with the Take & Toss Spill-Proof Cups, so you can transition your child easily from a spill proof sippy to a straw cup sippy when they are ready. They come in fun bold colors, and you can even get them in Winnie the Poo, Thomas the Train, Disney, or Sesame Street themes.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel is one of best birthday gifts my son received this year! This easel has seen daily use ever since we took it out of the box. Both of my boys, ages 3 and 18 months find hours of enjoyment with this great product.

The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel is just like a professional easel, only it’s specially sized for children. The easel is made of colorful and sturdy wooden construction, and features an erase marker board, a chalkboard, and even a paper roller. On each side there are tool trays: a sturdy paint tray with cup holders for easy use and clean-up of paint, and on the chalkboard side, a tool tray that holds erasers, chalks, and clips. The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel is ideal for kids ages 3 and up and has an adjustable height to accommodate the little ones as they grow. Also, it folds conveniently for easy storage!

The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel goes perfectly with the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Easel Companion Set, which includes 4 bottles of poster paint, 4 spill-proof paint cups, 1 roll of easel paper, 10 jumbo triangular chalk sticks, 1 felt eraser, 1 dry-erase marker, and 4 paint brushes – all of which can be stored right on the easel themselves. For the price, functionality, great construction, and years of enjoyment, you just can’t go wrong with this easel!

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing was definitely a must have item in my home for the first 6 months of my boys’ lives. It served as a second pair of hands, keeping the little one happy while mama got a chance to get stuff done around the house. At times it was even a great way to get the boys to sleep when they were being a bit fussy.

The Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing is a swing which can be set to rock forward and backward or side-to-side. Each of my sons had their preference – the oldest enjoyed the back and forth motion, while my youngest preferred the side-to-side swinging. You can choose from six different rocking speeds, eight songs and three ocean sounds. The two-position seat on this swing reclines, so your little one can be either laying back or be seated upright. This swing features an aquarium water globe with changing lights, music, tranquil aquarium sounds and swimming characters. A mobile spins around the globe with four plush aquatic creatures and it has a removable toy tray with a bead bar to keep baby entertained. The age range for this swing is newborn to 2 years or up to 25 pounds. It is a very sturdy swing as it has a large base of support but it’s also pretty easy to move around the house from room to room since its frame legs fold for storage and easy maneuverability.

Fisher-Price also makes two other great cradle swings – the Papasan Cradle Swing and the Rainforest Open-Top Cradle Swing.

Popularity: 15% [?]

I was lucky enough to be contacted by Emily of Tushygear, and sent a sample of her fantastic designs for review. Upon receiving her Tushygear On The Road diaper tote, I was amazed at how well made it is and how stylish it is for lugging around diapers and wipes when you are out and about.

Like many parents, when I am not using a diaper bag I have occasionally used the standard plastic bag to store my diapers and wipes, as well as using one of those vinyl changing pads in public places. Well, Tushygear is the answer to parents looking for something that helps you carry your diapers and wipes in a small tote that doubles as a super soft and snuggly diaper changing pad. It is compact enough to fit in a small bag or large purse, and it eliminates the need for those pesky plastic or ziplock bags. Sewed by hand in the USA, Tushygear On The Road diaper totes are made with a variety of colorful gender specific and gender neutral soft fabrics that are 100% cotton and completely machine washable. The website, Tushygear also features matching soft baby blankets, microfiber burp cloths, and elegant changing pad covers.

Popularity: 38% [?]