GoodyBlog

BPA-Free and Stylin'

2009-11-06T16:48:29-05:00

By now we've all heard about the dangers BPA plastics pose to children. And while there are tons of BPA-free options out there for baby bottles and sippy cups, sensible feeding dishes are harder to spot. Last month, one of our editors started a quest to find the perfect BPA-free dishes for her children.

Chandra's top picks were smart and affordable. But these plates from Fontaine Maury are just, well, fun. Choose from a number of colorful designs, then personalize a favorite with your child's name. Even better, skip paper plates this year and order custom birthday dishes instead. (Personalize a set without baby's age on it, and you're birthday-ready for years to come. Talk about going green!) All of them are BPA-free and dishwasher safe—and most importantly, absolutely adorable.

All-Natural Skincare Products

2009-11-06T16:30:06-05:00

Episencial, founded by Kim Walls, mom of two boys (4- and 7-years-old), has created a new line of all-natural skincare products for babies and kids inspired by Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s favorite fruits. The packaging makes the washes, creams and balms super cute, and real juice extracts give them a delicious smell (think apple, pear, orange, strawberry, and plum) that will surely add a fruity punch to bath time fun. Want to try them out on your bathing beauties? Parents readers have the chance to get a sneak peek at http://episencial.com/parents. Place an order before November 15th and you’ll get a 20% discount! Otherwise, products will be available in January at Target.com, Buy Buy Baby and Whole foods.

Friday Night Movies

2009-11-06T14:05:52-05:00

This Week's Big-Screen Goody:

Poor Thanksgiving. Halloween is barely over, and we've already skipped to Christmas! Disney's A Christmas Carol (rated PG) is breathing new life into the old classic this weekend. The holiday favorite gets a 3D update in this animated version, starring Jim Carrey and Robin Wright Penn. I love 3D movies, but this beloved tale is already a bit creepy--and that's before you have the Ghost of Christmas Past jumping off the screen. Maybe I'm just being overcautious. Let me know what you think if you see the film.

This Week's DVD Goodies:

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure

Earth 2100

Fraggle Rock: The Complete Final Season

Fraggle Rock: A Merry Fraggle Holiday

G.I. Joe: Resolute

LeapFrog: Learning DVD Set

Mickey's Magical Christmas

Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Season 7

Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express

Wolverine and the X-Men: Beginning of the End

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Ultimate Collector's Edition)

The Bippy Fairy Returns

2009-11-06T12:47:57-05:00

For those of you following along, you may recall the post I wrote a couple months back about the Bippy Fairy. My daughter Madelyn (right, appropriately wearing her Halloween fairy costume) was addicted to her pacifier which we call her "bippy." Even though I had a bippy until I was 5 years old and seem to be fine (no, I don't have buck teeth), her dentist and pretty much every other dentist out there, said that she needed to kick the habit. So my husband and I tried a variety of schemes to get her to give up the bippy. None of them worked. Until they did.

For the two weeks leading up to her 3rd birthday I told Madelyn that the Bippy Fairy was coming back. And this time, she was going to take her bippy no matter what. Because, I explained, 3 year olds can't have bippies. It's against the laws of the universe. So the night of her 3rd birthday, I took her bippy and said, The Bippy Fairy is coming tonight to take your bippy. She said, Leave it where I can see it. I thought this was fair. But I didn't want her to be able to reach it so I left it on the top of a shelf she could see from her bed, but I knew she couldn't reach.

I left the room. Silence. Two hours later, still silence. Holy crap, can it be this easy? I crept into her room and found her fast asleep -- with her bippy in her mouth! That little devil! She'd figured out how to climb up and get it. I pulled the bippy from her mouth -- pop! -- and took it into my bedroom and put it in my drawer. She never woke up. And this time, the bippy stayed in the drawer.

The next day at bedtime Madelyn asked for her bippy. I was out with friends, leaving the dirty work to my husband. I called to ask how it was going. What going? He asked. The bippy! The bippy! Oh, that, he said. She didn't even ask.

And so it was that easy. I think that the difference this time was just that she was ready. And I was too.

Good Deed Friday: Rescue Pets and Yummy Scents

2009-11-06T11:39:29-05:00

Inspired by her best friend's adorable rescue dog, Mo, Margaret Hyde wrote a series of enchanting "press-2-smell" (that's the new scratch-and-sniff, just FYI) books that follow Mo and his nose on scent-filled adventures.

The series, Mo's Nose, is illustrated by Mo's real-life mommy, artist Amanda Giacomin. The scents, rather ingeniously, come from natural essential oils provided by Aura Cacia and are hidden in scent-dispensing packets, so you and your kids can smell what Mo smells. (Don't worry, Mo has much more discerning tastes than your dog—no socks, dirty diapers, etc.)

Besides being a fantastic, fun and interactive series, a portion of the proceeds go to the Best Friends Animal Society, to help rescue lots more homeless pets.

My pick for the season is Mo Smells the Holidays. Readers get to follow Mo from the first leaves of autumn all the way through to the fireworks of New Year's Eve while reveling in sweet holiday scents like pumpkin pie and pine trees. I can smell it already.

These (Little) Shoes are Made for Shoppin'

2009-11-05T17:48:59-05:00

We love shopping for shoes but know how hard it can be when buying kicks for toddlers, which is why we think TinySoles is great!

It was founded by three moms who were frustrated finding kids footwear near their homes and online. They test every pair of shoes on their own kids, and if they aren’t satisfied with the product, you won’t see it for sale on their site.

The store is easy to navigate and features boots, sandals and dress shoes for babies to kids’ size 13. TinySoles offers free shipping on orders over $20 and daily deals. My favorite part is the simple return policy: if your little one (or you) is not happy with the footwear, you just ship the unworn shoes back within 45 days for a full refund or exchange.

For our shoe-buying tips, check out “My First Shoes” on page 172 of our October issue.

Cute Kid Thursday!

2009-11-05T15:13:12-05:00

My Name Is: James Michael
I’m: 7 months old
I hail from: Jersey City, NJ
I can usually be found: Looking for things to put in my mouth
Beloved Toy: Straps and tags on things that look tasty
Favorite Book: "Knuffle Bunny" by Mo Willems
Pastime: Relaxing outside looking up at the leaves rustling in the trees
Pet Peeve: Parents digging for treasure in my nose
Catch Phrase: "Bah Bah"

Hey, got a cute kid? Please email us a pic and bio and your little Mr. or Ms. Adorable could be featured on Cute Kid Thursday!

The Cupcake Craze Continues!

2009-11-03T13:30:28-05:00

We know you have awesome cupcake recipes. Why not share them with us on Mixing Bowl? Log on from now through Dec. 30 and enter for a chance to win our Parents Magazine Kids' Cupcake Contest (and the $250 prize money)!
Share the cutest, most scrumptious cupcake recipe you've created by entering the original recipe and photo, or log on just to vote for your favorite. Click here for full contest rules and details.
Need a little inspiration? Check out our November issue to see some super fun ideas, like our 'Monkey Around' creations at right.

Win Free School-Age Toys!

2009-11-02T09:47:21-05:00

Halloween might be over, but we're still handing out treats here at GoodyBlog. And unlike candy, these goodies are actually good for your kids, whether it's active games that get them off the couch or creative sets that let their imaginations go wild. This week one lucky winner is going to win a bucket full of fab toys for children ages 5 and 6. Here's the rundown:

Color Me Flowerz from Fisher-Price

Dodge Tag from Diggin'

Fairytale Spinner Game from eeboo

Hyper Blast from Wild Planet

I Spy Colorful Kids Puzzles from Briarpatch

Lucky Bee Bee Charms from Jakks Pacific

Pyramid playset from Playmobil

RipRider 360 from Razor

Saucer Scramble from Mattel

To enter this incredible contest, post a comment below until 9 a.m. ET on November 9th. We'll choose one reader in a random drawing.Then, visit again next week for one last amazing giveaway...for now (hint, hint). Read the full rules here. Goody luck!

Share Your Best Mama Tip!

2009-11-02T09:00:00-05:00

Got a great tip or trick that makes your life easier? Tell us about it and you could be featured in Parents magazine!

Whether it's a surefire way to get your picky eater to eat her veggies, a simple organizing solution, a clever way to keep kids busy on long car-rides, or the perfect go-to present that's a hit with every child, we want to know our readers' best nuggets of homegrown advice! It can be about anything—so go on and share! To add yours, go to our new community site. We can't wait to read your amazing tips!

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