I bought the Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills: Preschool book when my son turned two, because I noticed that he was very interested in naming shapes and colors and thought he might do well with some sort of learning tool, even at this early age. Well, he has absolutely loved this book from day one! We have been reading mainly the beginning of the book, which deals with colors. He is now to the point where he spells each color and sounds it out to read it. Everyday he comes up to me and asks if we can “spell the colors”. He loves the colorful pictures and enjoys describing them all to me. He is soaking this book up like a sponge. I do believe that it is slightly advanced for a two year old, especially the sections where they have the child trace the words with their finger, but it seems as though my son will surprise me and start doing that sooner than I think. The Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills: Preschool is meant for ages three to four, but can be used sooner as a fun way to get your kid started with learning their colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.

The Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills: Preschool is basically a workbook filled with over 540 colorful activity pages which consist of activities in basic concepts, reading, math, language arts, writing, and fine motor skills. This workbook helps you guide your child step-by-step through a variety of engaging and developmentally appropriate activities. The book is also aligned to State and National Standards for Preschool. Once your child has mastered the skills in this book, the Comprehensive Curriculum series then continues with 7 consecutive books, grades K-6.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Before the birth of my second son I set out to buy a new baby monitor. While browsing the store I came across the Angelcare Movement Sensor by BebeSounds. This monitor was the best money I have ever spent on a baby product.It has provided me with a peace-of-mind I never had with my first son. The monitor has both a movement and sound senor which are designed to detect your baby’s slightest movements, even those made from simple inhaling and exhaling. The best feature of the Angelcare Movement Sensor is that if does not detect any movement for twenty seconds, an alarm will sound. I actually tested this feature out because I was skeptical on how the monitor could detect anything through the baby’s thick mattress. The monitor passed every test. It really can detect the slightest movement even through the mattress, but is not overly sensitive to detect non-baby movements. And there is also a sensitivity setting so you can adjust to your homes conditions (wood floors feel more vibration = lower setting, carpet detects less vibration = higher setting). You really should test this out before putting a leap of faith into the monitor, but once you do I can promise you it really does help you sleep a little sounder at night.

The Angelcare Movement Sensor comes in three parts (motion sensor pad, nursery and parent unit) and is extremely easy to install. There are three settings on the nursery Unit. One setting is for sound only. Another setting is for sound and movement and features a “tic” sound every time baby moves (I passed on this option because my son was a light sleeper). The third setting is for sound and movement without the “tic” sound. This is the setting I use. I have experienced a few false alarms at night and let me tell you, I have never jumped higher or run faster in my life. But it only happens when the little guy scoots himself to the top of the crib and the senor did not pick up his movement/breathing.

Note: this is not a medical device nor can the Angelcare Movement Monitor prevent SIDS. For more information, please visit AngelCare.

This review has been written by our first guest writer: Kimmylyn - you can find her at Jogging in Circles.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I loved my Ocean Wonders Aquarium Bouncer when my boys were little. My boys seemed to do so well whenever I put them in this bouncer. They were quiet and calm, and it allowed me to get a lot of things done around the house. I took this bouncer to every room with me and would put my baby boys in it, and get a good half hour of peace and entertainment. Often times, the soothing vibrations and music would even get them to sleep for a nice long nap. I ended up using it for about 6 months with each, because that was around the time they started to pull up to a sitting position.

The Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Bouncer is a great chair that keeps babies entertained with lights, sounds, and music. It features four selections of music & sounds: lullabies, ocean waves, summer rain and babbling brook. The removable toy bar has fish that spin around as lights and bubbles dance around them, as well as a seahorse teether and fish spinner hanging from the toy bar that the baby can bat at while in the bouncer. Whenever the baby moves or kicks their feet, the soft padded seat gently bounces adding to the baby’s enjoyment. The Aquarium Bouncer also has harness straps to secure the baby in the bouncer and keep them safe. The seat and harness are all machine washable and dryer safe, which makes for really easy clean up. But by far my favorite part of this bouncer had to be the vibration mode which is similar to that of a car ride. It always seemed to calm my kids down whenever I put on the vibration mode, in addition to the music and the lights. Overall, a great product for keeping your kids happy, occupied, and entertained during that time before they are able to sit up on their own.

For more information about this bouncer, please visit Fisher-Price’s Website.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I received the Primo Baby EuroBath as a gift before my son was born. It is the largest baby bath tub available, which turned out to be a good thing as my son came out a whopping 9lb 12oz. This tub is so convenient and durable that I have used it for the last two years with both of my children.

There are two bathing areas in the bathtub, one for the baby when they are bathed laying down and one for when they are able to sit up on their own. I was able to use this tub on the island in my kitchen when my children were at the stage of laying down, which meant that I didn’t have to bend over and hurt my back while bathing them. Once they started sitting up I put them in the other contoured side with the tub on my tile floor. The way the Primo Baby EuroBath is designed, it contours to the shape of your child so that they are unable to slip and slide all over the place, even when they are sitting upright. This allows for more freedom for the baby to explore and splash around, as well as freeing up your hands to get in some good washing. Also, it saves me so much water, as it doesn’t require nearly as much water as if I were trying to bathe my children in a regular tub. I am currently still using it with my 11 month old, who weighs 25 pounds and is super active. He is safe and secure in this tub, and he gets to have a lot of fun, too!

The Primo EuroBath Baby Tub is available in three colors: pearl white, pearl mint green, and transparent blue. It has a built in drain and two areas for holding soap, shampoo, toys, etc. For more information, please visit Primo Baby.

Popularity: 4% [?]

I have been in a cleaning mood lately, and the Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber has made cleaning my bathtub and shower so much easier. I have always been a fan of the Scrubbing Bubbles line of cleaners by S.C. Johnson, and I was delighted to find this new product that they have come out with on the market. If there is one thing I hate, it’s soap scum on my shower and tub walls and doors, and Scrubbing Bubbles has been the only product I have found to get rid of the dreaded stuff without the need for much, if any, elbow grease. This particular product, the Action Scrubber, eliminates the need for spray cans and extra sponges and allows you to quickly and easily get rid of dirt and soap scum with barely getting your hands wet.

The Action Scrubber basically consists of the water-repellent flexible grip handle and disposable cleaning pads that attach to the handle via two Velcro strips. The design of the Action Scrubber is great, in that the handle is very easy to grip, allows your wrist to be in a natural position when cleaning, and is flexible enough to get in corners and around curves. The cleaning pad contains the powerful Scrubbing Bubbles cleanser which activates with a little water and is then disposed of after using it on your whole shower and tub. I also use it to give my sink and toilet bowl a good shine before all is said and done, as there is plenty of cleaner in one disposable pad. Afterwards, there is no messy rinsing and squeezing of a sponge, and no stinky, moldy sponge to be reused later! Also, it is easy to avoid getting the cleaner on your hands since you are holding just the handle, and you don’t have to come into contact with the pad while cleaning. The best part is that it takes very little scrubbing to get the tub or shower spotless in about half the time it would take to use any other product. Anything which cuts down on my cleaning time at home gets a big thumbs up from me!

For more information about the Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber please visit the S.C. Johnson website.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Jumping Jacks Shoes are my new obsession! I own about 10 pairs of these fantastic children’s shoes, and I couldn’t be happier with the fit, stylishness and durability. I bought my son his first pair of Jumping Jacks about a year ago when he was 20 months old. What I wouldn’t do to have owned these from the time when he started walking. These leather shoes and sandals are so well made, and they are very light and comfortable. The sole is very flexible and they are cushioned with soft leather foot beds. The padded collars around the opening of the shoes are great as well, protecting little feet from rubbing or blisters. My son can put on a brand new pair, run around for hours, and his feet show no signs of pressure points. My youngest son just started walking and does great with Jumping Jacks Basically Barefoot line of shoes, which are specifically designed with the new walker in mind. Once his feet get bigger, he will definitely inherit my older sons Jumping Jacks, because they basically look as though they were never used. The durability of these leather shoes is top notch.

Jumping Jacks Shoes have been around for 60 years, and they pride themselves on manufacturing top quality, orthopedically sound children’s shoes. They have several lines of shoes, from the Basically Barefoot and Perfection lines for beginner walkers, to the Uniform line for adolescents. They have boys and girls styles, both casual and dressy. Most styles come in regular and wide widths, and range from sizes 2 to 12/13. For more information about these shoes please visit Jumping Jacks Shoes.

Popularity: 8% [?]

We have been using the Jasmine 4-in-1 Crib by Delta Children’s Products nonstop for almost 3 years now. I started using this crib once my son was out of his bassinet, until he was about 24 months old and we needed it for my youngest son. Once this boy is big enough we plan on still using it and converting it to a toddler bed. Now, realize that this crib has been through quite a beating with two rambunctious boys, and it still looks like brand new and is as sturdy as the first day we put it up in the nursery.

This versatile and stylish piece of nursery furniture starts out as a crib with a quiet track fixed drop side for easy lifting of the baby into and out of the crib. There are 5 mattress height positions, allowing the mattress to be dropped down for when your little one starts sitting up and standing. Later the crib can be converted to a toddler bed, a day bed and even a full size bed. The full size bed requires an additional frame which is sold separately, but is easily available for purchase from Delta Children’s Products.

The Jasmine 4-in-1 Crib features a solid wood frame and metal construction, and it is JPMACP certified, meeting all mandatory and voluntary safety standards. As a crib and toddler bed it is rated for up to 50 pounds. It comes in several different stains to match your nursery decor, such as natural, cherry, and white. For more information, please go to Delta Children’s Products.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Sometimes it’s the simplest toys that make the biggest hit with kids. This is so true of the Playskool Busy Gears at my house. My boys received this toy as a Christmas present and have yet to tire of it. My 2.5 year old and 10 month old are both fascinated with the Playskool Busy Gears, spending a lot of time sorting and rearranging the colorful gears, taking them off, spinning them, and toting it all around the house. They actually play with the toy together, with my older son showing the younger one how to put the gears on, stack them, and to take them off. It is such a simple toy, with one button that plays a little tune and causes lights to flash and the gears to spin. That’s all it does, but it is hands down the favorite toy in the house right now. I can even spend some time doing housework, bills, etc. if I put this in front of them. That alone makes it a worthy buy in my book!

The Playskool Busy Gears is a colorful toy which has 11 mulicolored gears that can be rearranged, sorted and stacked. A red button at the bottom of the toy causes lights to flash, a song to play, and the gears to spin around. It also has an automatic shutoff feature which conserves the batteries. For more information about the Busy Gears and other Hasbro/Playskool toys, please visit Hasbro’s Playskool Website.

Popularity: 5% [?]

If you have hardwood, tile, or vinyl floors in your home, the Swiffer Sweeper Vac is for you. I received my Swiffer Sweeper Vac complements of The Mom Blogs. So, a hearty thank you goes out to them, because I absolutely love this cleaning tool! I have tile flooring in my kitchen, foyer, and bathrooms, and thanks to my kids there are always crumbs and such all over. Originally I would sweep the floor with a broom or handheld brush, but it just seemed to spread things around more than anything - plus it was so time consuming. The Swiffer Sweeper Vac made it so easy to clean up crumbs, cherrios, hair, dust bunnies, etc. in less than a couple minutes! So much so, that it has now officially replaced my broom and dustpan.

The Swiffer Sweeper Vac is a light weight long-handled bagless vacuum that also has a swiffer dry cloth that picks up all of the fine debris on the floor, like dust and hair. The head swivels which makes it easy to clean around and under furniture. The vacuum is pretty powerful at 10.5 Amps and runs on a rechargeable battery, so it’s cordless. Basically, you keep the vac plugged in and it is ready to go whenever you need it. The battery lasts about 12 minutes before you need to recharge it, so it is most suited for smaller quick jobs.

For more information about the Swiffer Sweeper Vac visit Swiffer.com.

Popularity: 5% [?]

In honor of Scrolling Saturday, we are featuring this archived post:

If it weren’t for the Huggies Overnites Diapers, I would be doing laundry loads of soaked sheets and clothes every morning. My son started potty training about four months ago, and while daytime is going very well, nighttime is an entirely different story. My son is such a heavy sleeper that he does not wake up for the bathroom or potty. The Huggies Overnites Diapers have been the only ones that have held enough liquid for him to sleep through the entire night, without waking up in a pool of wet clothes and sheets. Recently, I went without these diapers because I ran out and forgot to get more at the store.  Well, I was washing sheets every morning for 4 days before I quickly ran to the store at 11pm one night to buy these diapers.  The Huggies Overnites have to be the only diapers I have come across that actually work for heavy nighttime wetters. Every other diaper or nighttime pullup we have tried has caused either bad leaks or has caused my son to wake up crying from feeling very wet. A lot of moms who have tried these diapers, agree that these are simply the best for overnight wear.

The Huggies Overnites Diapers come in three sizes: 3(16-28 lbs), 4(22-37 lbs), and 5(27+ lbs). For more information visit Huggies Baby. Sometimes, Huggies Overnites are not available in your local retailers, but they are easily ordered on Amazon in all three sizes.

Popularity: 7% [?]