As personalized gifts go, this one is as priceless as they come. The animals are having a party and the center of attention is your baby. You send in your baby's birth date and first and last name, and the animals in the forest each introduce the letters, one by one, accompanied by a rhyming reason why their letter is perfect. The sample book sent by "I See Me" Personalized Books Inc. uses the name Jack Campbell. A jackal, antelope, cheetah and koala each have a page to spell out Jack. My favorite page is when the animals are celebrating in the meadow: "Jack Campbell has a wonderful sound! A more perfect name we could not have found. Now that our work for the day is complete, Let's sing and dance and stomp our feet." Other titles include "My Very Own Fairy Tale," "My Very Own Pirate Tale" and "My Very Own ABCs." - Betsy Bethel
If you're concerned about rubbing petroleum products on your newborn's skin, Waxelene offers an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum jelly. It has the same protective, waterproofing, moisturizing and soothing properties that parents love, but contains no petroleum or hydrogenated oils. Waxelene's ingredients include natural beeswax and oils like vitamin E and organic rosemary, which soak in and nurture skin cells. It is made in the USA and packaged in recyclable glass jars, in 2-ounce and 9-ounce sizes.
Recommended by a local lactation consultant, LilyPadz are washable breast pads for nursing mothers. Moms like that they don't have to keep buying disposable pads and the reusable ones are more earth-friendly. (The company says they last about two months). Made of breathable silicone, the pads contour to the shape of the breast and provide enough pressure to prevent leakage.
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Tivoli Couture's NuComfort memory foam stroller pad comes in cute, washable styles and provides the comfort, support and shock absorption of memory foam for babies. The removable liner also can be used as a play mat or a diaper changing pad. The lining is hypoallergenic.
So we now know that you're not supposed to buckle a bundled-up baby into a car seat because the bulky material can compress during a crash and cause the straps to be too loose, putting the baby at risk for ejection from the seat. But you don't want your child to be cold while the car heats up. The Wrapeaze is a fleece poncho-type cover that you can place over the baby after he or she is buckled in. It comes in toddler and kids' sizes, too, and a variety of colors and styles.
This book by Tamika L. Gardner, founder of SimplyBabyFoodRecipes.net is filled with fresh and simple puree recipes divided by age groups. Don't let the title fool you - the cookbook also includes chunky purees, bakes and toddler meals. Gardner includes an Organics 101 chapter and lists Superfood Heroes as well as the Toxic 20 (produce to avoid unless it is organically grown). "Every recipe is built to make your life less complicated - whether you're storing a blend in the freezer for later or making a family-friendly puree that will satisfy the whole table." Take it from a mom who made all her daughter's baby food, I wish I'd had a book like this to inspire me. - Betsy Bethel
The Pipila is a baseball-sized, space-age-like, plastic contraption that uses ultraviolet light and ozone to kill purportedly 99.9 percent of the germs on your baby's pacifier in three minutes. It can be kept in the car or diaper bag and used during those times when water is not available. It runs on two AAA batteries and comes in three colors: blue, green and pink.
The Germinator is a moisturizing, alcohol-free hand sanitizer that will not dry out your hands and is recommended for repeated use - great for the nursery or wherever you most often change your baby's diaper. I can't use alcohol-based sanitizers in the winter so I keep a bottle on my desk and really like the soft feel and the tangerine scent. - Betsy Bethel
