Fashion & Gear - Other Gear

Philips is rolling out its first Sonicare for Kids electric toothbrush ($70) and my 7-year-old daughter, Olivia, had a chance to try it.

Geared toward children four- to- 10-years-old, the toothbrush has kid-friendly features like the KidPacer musical tone which tells brushers when to switch to another quadrant of the mouth.

The quadrant-switching tone didn’t impress my daughter that much. But she loved hearing music while brushing, regardless of its purpose, especially the pleasant little melody that’s played at the end when the timer has run out.

“It’s like singing a song while I’m brushing my teeth,” she says. “I used to hate brushing, but now I love it.” She also thinks the three changeable covers for the toothbrush are pretty cool.

Who knows how long the pricey gadget will retain its allure. But for the past four days, it’s been such a hit in our home — unlike the much cheaper battery-operated cheaper versions —I haven’t had to nag Olivia to brush her teeth, not even once!

– Joanne, NYC mother to newborn and 7-year-old daughters

There is nothing like helping (or watching!) your little one pack their backpack for the first day of school. In goes brand-new pencils, crayons, and any other little odds and ends they feel they will need once they cross through the big double doors on their own. While stocking the pack and setting it by the front door is an exciting step as it leads them that much closer to starting school, parents first must begin their quest for the perfect backpack suitable for their toddler.

For younger kids brand new to the schoolyard, the standard sized backpacks are often much more than a toddler can handle. Fortunately, the smaller sized line of mini backpacks are becoming increasingly popular for the preschool crowd with several companies expanding their options and designs to create a nice blend of trendy and practicality. Most mini backpacks boast large, easy-to-grip zippers, spacious pockets, and simple layouts for the basic needs of a preschooler.

More often than not, parents are often left carrying the weight at the end of the day! When Hugh Jackman stepped out with Ava, the actor was happy to tote his daughter’s favorite owl backpack while she was all smiles riding her scooter down the city streets after a day at preschool. Also eager to lend a hand, model Claudia Schiffer carried daughter Clementine’s pink backpack when the two headed home after a school day in London.

Asadorian-Mejia/Splash News Online; EaglePress/INF

Steal That Style: Back to School (Mini!) Backpacks!

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My 4-year-old son is a lovely child who melts my heart, but I admit he spends a fair amount of time in time out. Now, before I lived with a small boy I’d have said an electronic Time Out Pad ($35) is overkill. Now I know that this child would do the laundry and change the oil in the car if he was being timed. Whenever we need him to do anything we just set the kitchen timer and that “BEEP” is more powerful than the voice of God Himself. Click to continue reading »

UPDATE: BabySwede LLC and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a voluntary safety recall of this product, after small metal pieces were found in the padded section of the Babysitter’s fabric seat. Though no incidents or injuries related to the pieces have been reported, BabyBjorn received notice from two consumers in Japan in relation to the metal, and found pieces in several other models they tested, too. Consumers should stop using the product and contact BabySwede LLC at 1-866-424-0200 for instructions on returning the product for inspection. They can also visit babyswede.com for details.

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Like a bouncy seat without the bells, whistles and sing along tunes, the BabyBjorn Babysitter Balance Air ($140-190) is cool looking seat for babies ages newborn to two.

Made with the same mesh fabric as their Baby Carrier Air and Baby Carrier Synergy, the fabric the baby is on is breathable, machine-washable, easy to keep clean and dries quickly.

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My brother is having his first baby and like all new parents, he and his wife are completely baffled by what baby gear they really need. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the products they’re going to absolutely need in the first few months of their daughter’s life.

One of the products that literally SAVED us the first few weeks of Anya’s life was the Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing ($120). I don’t even recall if we registered for it but we received it at our shower and it was definitely the best unexpected gift. The compact size of the box is deceptive as it doesn’t exactly have the smallest footprint. Additionally, the colors of the seat were a bit garish for us (we’re mid-century modern folks). But we discovered that none of that mattered once we started using it on a daily basis.
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Balance bikes are a great toy to help kids transition from a trike to a bike. They give small kids the feel of a real bike and teach the balance and coordination required to ride one. My hope is that, when the time comes, we’ll be able to transition to a pedal bike without using training wheels. Maybe next summer!

Whether your taste goes to the old-school, wooden bike for your kid or a shiny, silver model, we’ve found several great pedal-less bikes that fit the bill.

• Prince Lionheart Balance Bike: An Old-School Styled Balance Bike
• g-bike by Kickboard USA: A High Tech Balance Bike
• LIKEaBIKE: It’s Like a Bike, Only Better

– Kristen

The g-bike by Kickboard USA ($140) is a high-tech, aluminum foot bike that weighs under four pounds and looks super sleek.

The seat and steering-wheel height are both easily adjustable so it grows with the kids. The small, plastic Rollerblade-type wheels won’t mark the floor if you decide to bring it in on yucky days.

Finn took a bit longer to master the g-bike but now rides it with ease.

Balance bikes give small kids the feel of a real bike and teach the balance and coordination required to ride one. My hope is that, when the time comes, we’ll be able to transition to a pedal bike without using training wheels. Maybe next summer!

– Kristen

If you’re like me, you want to keep your kids safe and healthy, yet don’t want to sacrifice cleaning power. Enter Nature’s Source, a new line of plant-based biodegradable cleaning products from SC Johnson (the maker of Windex and Scrubbing Bubbles) that do the trick without the ick. Click to continue reading »

When you’re trying to stuff your bag full of baby essentials, tossing in a blanket seems preposterous. Of course that doesn’t mean you won’t need one, but diapers and bottles are definitely more essential. Enter the Chic & Cozy Blanket Bag ($45). Click to continue reading »

Prince Lionheart Balance Bike

Made from wood with large, rubber tires, the Prince Lionheart Balance Bike ($80) looks like a big-kids’ bike. Its retro styling with the race car number up front and the real bike tires makes it cool. Click to continue reading »