What to buy for baby and you
This year's Parenting Resources competition for the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) has seen some of the most innovative entries yet. We cheer at the number of winners conceived and developed by moms in the trenches. We applaud how technology has raised the bar on car seat safety and easy installation; stroller navigation and portability; and baby monitors that let parents talk back comfortingly to their child. And we note how the pendulum has swung away from products that promote "super-smart kids" to tools that enhance family harmony and promote healthy emotional development.
It's a great time to be a parent, and we encourage you to check out the following pages to see NAPPA judges' and family testers' top picks!
Pregnancy & Birth
My Brest Friend Deluxe
Zenoff Products Inc.; $41-$45; www.mybrestfriend.com. This wearable nursing pillow encircles a breastfeeding mom with a narrow band of cushioning and support at her back. The band widens to a comfy, secure surface along the front to facilitate baby's latching on. An adjustable, silent-release belt secures the fit around mom's waist; a side pocket keeps sundries within easy reach.
"It's a HUGE help to breastfeeding moms, and makes it much easier to support the baby."
- Mom Tester
Pregnancy, Childbirth, & the Newborn: The Complete Guide (Medically Updated)
By Penny Simkin, PT, Janet Whalley, RN, BSN, Ann Keppler, RN, MN, Janelle Durham, MSW, ICCE, LCCE, and April Bolding, PT, DPT, CD, CCE; Meadowbrook Press, 2008 (Fifth Edition); $15; www.meadowbrookpress.com.
Our testers loved this book's positive, thorough approach to preparing new parents for their birth experience. It encourages questions, offers alternatives and empowers parents-to-be to make decisions based on accurate, balanced research and personal choice.
"This is a great gift for a newly pregnant couple!"
- Judge
Sleep is for the Weak: The Best of the Mommybloggers, including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Shoulda Coulda, Mom-101, and More!
Edited by Rita Arens; foreword by Stacy Morrison, editor of Redbook; Chicago Review Press, 2008; $11.95; www.chicagoreviewpress.com.
While many of these short essays from popular mommy blogs are outrageous, they're also sweet, poignant, funny and, most of all, authentic. They touch moms with solace, laughter and tears born from a wide range of viewpoints and shared experiences.
"Much needed comic relief! Makes getting up at 4 a.m. with my 20-month-old easier!"
- Mom Tester
Not-Just-for-Baby Gear
ERGObaby Carrier
ERGObaby Inc.; $94-$110; www.ergobabycarrier.com. Our testers and judges deem this the most comfortable carrier they've ever used. It's soft, cushioned, durable, safe and - as one tester put it - "hip and cool for moms and dads!" One judge's summary: "It allows baby's legs and hip joints to be placed in a better position for proper growth and development, provides excellent head support, and balances the baby's weight between the parent's hips and shoulders." Carry your child (infant through the toddler years) in front, along your hip or on your back. Optional front pouch and backpack leave your hands free wherever you roam.
"I can carry either my baby or a 44-pound child for hours without feeling any strain on my back or shoulders."
- Mom Tester
Philips AVENT DECT Baby Monitor (SCD 520)
Philips AVENT; $149.99; www.philips.com/AVENT. This small, cordless baby monitor guarantees clear sound and offers a talk-back feature so you can hear and respond soothingly to your baby within a 1,000-foot range. Set and monitor room temperature from the portable parent unit's digital display. Use the base monitor as a nightlight and to play lullabies.
Summit 360 by Baby Jogger
Baby Jogger; $399.99; www.babyjogger.com. Baby Jogger, a past NAPPA winner, has done it again! This versatile hybrid stroller and jogger gets a unanimous thumbs-up for its lightweight aluminum frame, patented one-hand fold, easy steering swivel-or-lock front wheels and overall smooth ride. The padded five-point harness scores extra points from our safety judge. And the bold colors and classy styling appeals to both mom and dad testers.
Symphony ™ Featuring SureLatch ™ All-in-One Car Seat
Evenflo; $199.99; www.evenflo.com. This car seat offers what parents want most: safety, comfort, quick and secure installation, and easy adjustability. The car seat fits children from 5 to 100 pounds and can be used in rear- or forward-facing positions, and as a booster seat. SureLATCH ™ Connectors easily click onto the built-in LATCH anchoring system in newer cars. To adjust the five-point harness straps, headrest or harness height to fit your cherub, just slide, click or push into place. You're done in seconds!
"The new SureLATCH was awesome. It's the best technology for safe installation that I have ever seen or used."
- Parent Tester
Wonder Bumpers
Go Mama Go Designs; starting at $99; www.gomamagodesigns.com. These mom-designed crib bumpers literally turn traditional baby bumpers on their side! Fully reversible, padded bumpers zip around the vertical bars of the crib to protect baby, while increasing airflow and reducing the risk of SIDS. The concealed, downward-pulling reversible zippers make Wonder Bumpers easy to use, remove and clean. Custom mix-and-match colors and designs let you decorate each individual crib bar.
Health & Skin Care
Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes (SPF 30+)
MD Moms; $26 for 15 towelettes; www.mdmoms.com; Our testers concur that using sunscreen wipes is much easier than applying other forms of sunscreen to a squirming child! These towelettes smooth on easily, have a light, pleasant scent, and protect children's skin just as well as other sunscreen lotions and creams.
"I've used other sunscreen wipes, but these are softer, stronger, dry faster and feel much less oily."
- Tester Mom
SunSmart Superman UV-Protective Swim & Play Wear
SunSmart Inc.; $42.95; www.sunsmart.ca. When little superheroes don SunSmart Superman and Supergirl swim/playwear with detachable towel capes, they're off to protect our planet from alien forces - and their skin from harmful UV rays. Made from 97 percent UVA/UVB-blocking fabric, SunSmart's four-way stretch material dries quickly and keeps kids cool and comfortable. (Baby sizes have an extra zipper for easy diaper changes.)
Toddler Years
boosterPOD ®
Prince Lionheart; $49.99; www.princelionheart.com. The pride of sitting in a "big boy" or "big girl" chair accompanies this cushy, bright and portable booster seat with a raised back for secure seating and lap belt. The POD attaches to a chair with safety straps that clip both under the chair seat and behind the chair back. A wide, non-skid bottom keeps the POD solidly in its place. Six color combinations make a decorative statement.
Mobi TykeLight &® GloMate ™
Mobi Inc.; $24.99; www.getmobi.com. The GloMate nightlight beams a constant blue, green or pink - or cycles through these colors - when taken off its recharging stand. It stands guard at your child's bedside or illuminates the way to the bathroom at night. The LED light is always cool to the touch and a built-in battery lets it glow for 10 hours; GloMate's "Gentle Sleep" automatically dims and turns off the light after 15 minutes.
"My sons and I just name the colors as we watch them morph into each other."
- Parent Tester
Safety 1st Little Men Working Potty
Dorel Juvenile Group USA; $34.99; www.djgusa.com. The Little Men Working Potty makes potty training fun for little boys! Shaped like a truck, it encourages boys to use the potty and rewards them with truck sounds when a deposit is made. The 3-in-1 design offers a potty seat and removable trainer seat and becomes a step stool when the lid is closed. Girl testers loved it, too!
"The sound effects enticed our child to use the potty more often!"
- Tester Mom
Preschoolers & Up
The Siblings' Busy Book: 200 Fun Activities for Kids of Different Ages by Lisa Hanson and Heather Kempskie; Meadowbrook Press, 2008; $9.95; www.meadowbrookpress.com.
Ever wonder how to simultaneously engage two, three, or more children of different ages without cloning yourself? This book offers slews of imaginative activities that really work: each starts with a useful chart specifying what you'll need for each child by age, from infant through school age, and then provides variations for doing the activities with different ability levels.
School Age
The Learning Calendar 2009
Fat Brain Toy Co.; $14.95; www.fatbraintoys.com. "Hang history on the wall" with this fun- and fact-filled write-on calendar. It features an historic event per day, dozens of simple activity ideas and trivia questions that make learning a fun family event.
Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents
By Kourosh Dini, M.D.; self-published, 2008; $15.95; www.videogameplayandaddiction.com. How much video game time is too much? Child psychiatrist Kourosh Dini, M.D., an avid gamer himself, addresses this question in this thoughtful, balanced book. He explains the allure of games, describes the potential benefits of gaming, and offers guidelines to assess an overuse problem.
All Ages
Autism Asperger's Digest, Future Horizons Inc.; $49.95 annual subscription; www.autismdigest.com.
Whether you're new to an autism or Asperger's diagnosis, or a veteran looking for the latest research, this bi-monthly magazine is a lifeline. It acknowledges the challenges of autism spectrum disorders for those diagnosed and their families and focuses on the strengths and positive aspects of not being neurotypical. It inspires and guides readers to build the best lives for their families.
Early Intervention & Autism: Real-Life Questions, Real-Life Answers By James Ball, Ed.D., BCBA; Future Horizons Inc., 2008; $24.95; www.FHautism.com.
This book covers everything a parent should know about autism as soon as it's diagnosed. The format follows a family from medical confirmation through the stages of grief, the confusing meetings, the many options of care, and the transition to public school. Our testers appreciate how the book acknowledges the different ways that moms and dads respond in parenting crises and offers strategies to work through those crises to stay focused on the child.
"This book is the bible for families with a young child diagnosed with autism."
- Judge
"The explanation of how autism affects the brain should be a 'must read' for everyone."
- Parent with a child on the spectrum
Ex-Etiquette for Parents: Good Behavior After a Divorce or Separation
By Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe; Chicago Review Press, 2004; $16.95; www.chicagoreviewpress.com.
Behold an indispensable guide to parenting after divorce, especially when step-parents and step-siblings are involved. One judge brought this book home on a lark, amused by the fact that it was written by two female friends who are the ex-wife and current wife of the same man. As our judge read sections aloud to his family, everyone laughed and nodded in agreement; then they adopted the book's suggestion to use "bonus-family" to replace the emotionally loaded word "step."
Refuse to Say Cheese: Capture the Story - and - Beyond the Green Box: Understanding Your Digital Camera 2-DVD Set. Me Ra Koh Photography Inc., 2007; $29.99 individually or $49.99 set; www.refusetosaycheese.com.
Prominent photographer Me Ra Koh offers great visuals and easy-to-follow exercises in her DVD series for parents, Documenting a Child's Life. The first DVD, Refuse to Say Cheese: Capture the Story, explains how to use photography to say more than fake smiles and stiff poses ever could. The second DVD, Beyond the Green Box: Understanding Your Digital Camera, shows users of digital, single-lens reflex cameras how to turn off the "auto" button and use manual settings to create mood, depict action and more.
What to Read When: The Books and Stories to Read with Your Child - and All the Best Times to Read Them By Pam Allyn; Avery, 2009; $16.95; www.penguin.com.
While this book contains great lists of books, both by age and theme - including such topics as "A Bad Day," "Feeling Silly" and "Your Body" - it's also a wonderful guide to reading aloud. The book suggests, for example, that parents and kids warm up to reading aloud by making predictions about a particular book, based on the title or first line, and then wondering together about the author's personal dedication lines.
Xip3 uF6DB
CoreGear uF6DB; $75 kids, $95 adults; www.xip3.com.
This smartly styled jacket transforms into a backpack or pillow with one quick zip. Now when kids get too warm at the mall or on an outing, they can remove this all-weather jacket, turn it inside out, and zip it into a cool-looking backpack. Outer shell is water-repellent, breathable and fast-drying; lining is soft, ecoSmart ™ fleece. Reflective piping, logos and zippers provide high visibility in low light.
Note: While all of these NAPPA-winning products have been judged, to the best of our ability, to be safe and well-constructed, we do not warrant their safety or appropriateness for your child and we are not liable for any injuries that may result from their use.
The NAPPA Judges
NAPPA salutes the team of specialty judges, family testers and veteran
parenting editors who, under lead judge Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D, named the winners of the 2009 NAPPA Parenting Resources competition. Cohen, a former NAPPA winner himself (for his bestselling book Playful Parenting), is a licensed
psychologist, author and nationally recognized speaker who specializes in
children's play and play therapy. This is his fourth year with NAPPA.
Seventeen specialty judges from leading institutions across North America joined NAPPA this year. Together with their teams of professionals, their collective
expertise ranged from pediatric and chiropractic health, childproofing, injury
prevention and nutrition, to prenatal and postnatal care, lactation, child
development, education and special needs.
Finally, dozens of family testers also played a key role in choosing this
year's Gold and Honors winners.
Source: Tidewater Parent Magazine
