I was given an opportunity to try out the Little Looster booster stool. We are working on potty training our son and have been having some difficulty with him getting up on the big potty. We have had to stick with the little potty (and CLEANING the little potty!) or lift him onto the big potty. With two kids in the house, it’s hard to stop everything and lift him onto the big potty.

I was intrigued when I saw the information on the Little Looster as I thought that would be a great item to help with the training process. The Little Looster is a stool that is horseshoe shaped and it curves around the bottom of the toilet. It is designed in a way that it almost hugs the toilet base. We have a standard round base toilet and an elongated bowl toilet, so I tried it on both of them. It works on the elongated bowl and is open enough to also fit well around the standard round bowl. With the size of our bathrooms, I did find it fit better in the bathroom with the standard shaped toilet but it was never in the way with either toilet. Since it is a curved design, the Little Looster can stay where it is without interfering with adults using the same toilet.

The Little Looster is designed to support and boost the child while training and will help them sit more comfortably as they get bigger. They will be able to touch without dangling their feet and their legs won’t fall asleep. They also won’t have a fear of falling into the toilet because they use their legs for support rather than having to grip onto the rim of the toilet. It was advertised that the Little Looster will eliminate the need for the toilet seat insert. My other child put my training child on the potty without a seat and found he was able to hold himself up pretty well considering he’s just learning. This made me happy that he was able to accomplish sitting without making a mess or falling in.

I think this product is a good alternative to the standard step as it appears to be taller than a standard step and since the pedestal portion goes all the way around the base of the toilet, kids can get a better chance of stepping up without falling.

We will definitely be using the Little Looster for a few more years and with its help, we hope to have our son trained quickly.

I definitely recommend this product for anyone with kids ready to potty train or who are unable to touch the floor when they are on the potty.

The Little Looster is plastic and is Made in the USA. The suggested retail price is $39.99 and can be bought at http://www.littlelooster.com.

The owner of this blog is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

5 of the Best Baby Gifts For Multiples
By Beamer M Anderson

So you just found out your best friend is having triplets and you’re ready to start shopping. Your first inclination might be to start buying 3 of everything – 3 matching t-shirts, 3 matching rattles, 3 matching receiving blankets. But keep in mind that having 3 babies isn’t just 3 times as much fun – it’s also 3 times as much confusion – and work! Here are the best baby gifts for multiples that will really be appreciated.

Diapers – Of course the number one gift on the list is diapers. The average newborn uses 12 diapers per day. Multiply that by 3 and then multiply it again by 30 and you’re looking at almost 1100 diapers just in the first month. Over the course of just one year the expense will be more than $3000. New parents – especially of multiples – always appreciate the gift of diapers.

Time - The second best baby gift you can give any new mother is the gift of Time. And with multiples it’s even more appreciated. Organize a weekly housecleaning brigade, volunteer to run errands or do the grocery shopping, cook meals that are easy to re-heat. Don’t just offer “Let me know if I can be of any help.” Most people won’t take you up on it. Be specific – “I will be here every Monday for the first 6 months to sit with the babies for one hour so you can get a bubble bath and relax.” or “I will be here every Saturday afternoon for 2 hours so you can go out and get your hair done or relax at the coffee shop.”

Baby clothes – Multiple babies are going to go through multiple clothing items – bibs, t-shirts, nightgowns, socks, booties, etc. If you buy matching items, get them in different colors. And make sure to pass the word for baby showers to let everyone know what the colors are. For example, if the mother is having triplets, have everyone buy red, yellow and green or pink, blue and yellow. That way you’ll always be able to tell which baby is which until they develop their own personalities.

Baby care items – Even though the mother may be planning to breastfeed she’s still going to need bottles – and plenty of them. Medicine dispensers, thermometers, baby shampoo, burping towels, baby powders and ointments – all of the items you’d generally buy for new babies will be in even greater demand when multiples are involved. While a baby thermometer may only be needed for one baby at a time, chances are it will be used more frequently and the chance of breaking it or losing it will be greater. So multiple gifts for multiple babies will always be appreciated.

Baby safety – Don’t forget things like outlet covers and drawer locks. With more than one baby crawling around the curiosity and mischief will multiply, too, so it’s even more important to make sure the house is baby-proofed.

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I was invited to do a review of http://www.edenhome.com by fuelmyblog. I have looking to purchase some organic products and their offer of a discount code to review their site was appreciated.
Eden Home’s website is pretty and has a variety of organic products from household items to kids and baby clothing and toys.

I immediately started browsing the girl clothing section to hopefully find something in my 6 year old’s size. Unfortunately, they don’t have a way to search by size so I had to look at items I liked to see what size they went up to. The sizes of the items I looked at are listed based on ages, not by size, so I was unsure if a 5-6 year size would fit my daughter who usually wears a size 7/8. After looking through a few shirts and dresses, I found that those items only went up to size 5-6 year.

So, I decided to move on to browse the boy clothing section since I was sure I could find something to fit a 2 year old. I found some cute Cotton Pajamas but because we live in Florida, I was afraid the long sleeves would be too warm for summer.

Then I started looking at the boys clothes. There was a small selection of shirts and outfits. One of the items I particularly liked was the Sea Monster Organic T-Shirt by Frugi. It was listed as organic cotton made with a process to make it soft but durable. And of course, anything that is durable for a boy is great for us moms! I wasn’t sure what to expect with the feel of the shirt, but when I received it, I was pleasantly surprised at how soft it really is. The fabric is nice and thick for a T-Shirt. The sea monster printed on it appears to be silk-screened, so I am not sure how long that will last but it almost looks like the shirt itself will last longer than the picture!

Another item I ordered was the BPA Free Eco Friendly Plates. I am very concerned about BPA in the plastic dishes we have for our kids but haven’t found anything that is safe if dropped. These plates (a set of 4) are made of a tempered glass like what’s used in car windshields. They are made to not shatter if dropped but hopefully we won’t experience what really does happen! They are smaller than a dinner plate (more like an appetizer plate) but they work pretty well for most meals. They are also dishwasher safe. Eden Home had the plates well wrapped with cardboard tape and bubble wrap so they transported well.

Finally, as I was browsing the store, I found the Organic Skincare for Kids. I am always looking for baby wash that made without all the chemicals we hear so much about these days. I chose the Little Twig Natural Baby Wash which is formulated with all organic and natural ingredients and is tested for irritation, sensitivity and allergens. They have an extra mild unscented version but I chose the Lavender, Lemon & Tea Tree scent. The scent is nice and not too flowery. The listing on the website didn’t list the size of the baby wash but when it arrived, I noticed it is 8.5 oz. It’s a pretty good value for an organic item.

All in all, I felt like Eden Home had a wide variety of products to choose from (although not too large of a selection within each category). Their ordering process was easy and I received confirmation emails during the process as well. The items shipped quickly and were packaged well to avoid breakage (and the kids enjoyed popping the bubble wrap!). I will definitely order from them again. I am looking at buying the Sandwich Wrappers for my daughter for school next year.

If you are looking for organic products yourself, sign up for their email list and you will get a coupon for 15% off your purchase. You can also enter to win an organic baby shower. Just go to their site and click on the link to sign up for their gift registry. Then you will have a chance to win a gift certificate or the grand prize of $1000 in products from Eden Home. Sign up by June 30, 2010.

The owner of this blog is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

By Jean Tracy

Would you like to raise children with successful characters? Does your crankiness get in the way? If so, you’re not alone; I’ve been cranky too. Look inside for 3 ways to help your kids want to succeed.

Today I’ll share the secret formula for raising respectful kids who want to succeed. You won’t have to feel cranky or guilty again. Instead you’ll create more success, more cooperation, and more respect in your home.

But first I’ll tell you about the power of positive influencing,a boy named Bobby, and a little girl named Carol.

Influencing is your reaction to your child’s behavior. Influencing happens every day, for better or for worse, without your even thinking about it.

Let’s say your Bobby walked the dog without being asked. You smile and say “Thank You.”

Character Tip – Positive Influencing Is the Secret Formula

Because Bobby saw your smile and heard your “Thank You,” he may be willing to walk the dog more often. Your positive comment about Bobby’s behavior influenced his willingness to walk the dog again.

Can you see how knowing about influencing with positive comments can increase your parenting skills?

Of course, influencing can go the other way. Being too cranky too often with negative comments can stop Bobby from wanting to please you, to feel angry, fearful, or lazy.
Continue reading »

It’s that time again! We are looking for new and unique products to add to our baby boutique inventory. What products do you like that are unique that you’d want us to share with others?
We prefer products from smaller companies.
Please post here or email vanessa@tropicalbabyboutique.com.

If you are a nurse (or doctor for that matter!) and you have young kids, you will love AfterShiftNursingGear.com.
They have a cute selection of rompers, onesies and kid’s t-shirts with adorable images and sayings such as “My Mommy Saves Lives.”
Visit the kid’s clothing at AfterShiftNursingGear.com.

After Shift Nursing Gear also has a variety of items for adults including t-shirts, neck ties, totes and bags and other unique items.

This company was started by nurses and offers a unique and original collection of items in a boutique setting.
These items would make a great gift for the nurse in your life as well!

After Shift Nursing Gear Baby Rompers

www.AfterShiftNursingGear.com

We are offering 10% off all items in our store at www.tropicalbabyboutique.com for Cyber Monday! Type in code cybermonday in the discount code box during checkout to get your savings.
Don’t miss out on this deal as it is for one day only!

If you are looking for a new gift idea for a birthday, Christmas or new baby, consider a personalized children’s book. I See Me creates personalized books using the child’s name and information about the child, his or her friends, hobbies and family. There are a variety of themes from animal theme to fairy tales to books featuring the child’s own drawings.
Take a Virtual Book Tour of the personalized children’s book “My Very Own Name”.

Have you started looking for your child’s Halloween Costume for this year yet?

There are many available choices from Transformers to Hannah Montana to Princesses and all the Super Heroes. Costume Express has a wide variety of child Halloween costumes and you can even find something for yourself there. I like also how they have all of the accessories to go with the costumes you pick. And they have a lot of size choices so your younger children can even have a costume like the big kids!

Order soon for the best choices!

Click here for Free Shipping on Halloween Costumes.

Don’t look now, but school’s here! Are you ready for one of the biggest challenges for Moms of school-age kids – preparing school lunches day after day?

There’s hope and help for you yet. Here are 7 back-to-school lunch tips. Hey, I can’t come over and make your kids’ lunches for you, but these tips will surely make it much easier:

1. Make dinner do double-duty

You’re already in the kitchen preparing your family’s dinner, why not use that time to get a head-start on the next day’s brown bag lunches?

Make a double batch of meals that taste just as good “the morning after,” you know, like fried chicken. Or cook dishes that can be transformed into something “new”, such as pasta sauce that’s just as yummy as pizza topping (on ready-made crust of course).

To make meal planning easier, take a look at Dine Without Whine. It’s a monthly service for planning your family’s meals and grocery shopping.

2. Include lunches when meal planning

To do tip #1, you need to be more organized. This means including your kids’ lunches when planning your family dinners.

3. Let the kids participate

Lighten your load and teach your children some important life skills at the same time. Even small children can help prepare their lunches.

If morning is too stressful, then make this an after-dinner activity – which brings us to…

4. Make advance preparations

Do whatever you can do ahead of time. For example, cook in batches on the weekend, or put leftovers in packable containers the night before.

5. DIY fast food

Commercial packed lunches are attractive but unhealthy. But who says you can’t make your own? Buy your own colorful and attractive lunch boxes, such as a bento-style lunchbox.

Fill it up with a variety of healthy food. Think of mixing up foods with different textures and colors. And cut them up into small pieces so they’re easy and fast to eat.

6. Soup it Up

Soup makes a quick and healthy lunch. You can cook a large pot in the weekend and pack it in a thermos for a warm and satisfying lunch. Serve with whole wheat bread and some fresh fruit and you’ve got a complete meal!

7. Sprinkle in some fun

Sneak a little surprise into your child’s lunchbox once in a while. It could be a little chocolate treat, stickers, or a sweet note from you. Getting something unexpected makes lunch fun.

With planning and creativity, your children can have healthy, delicious lunches without too much work for you.

For meal planning help, go to Dine Without Whine. It makes meal planning a breeze, while helping you save time and money.

Then you’ll have time and energy for those school lunches.