droolicious : bath

Ocean Adventures With These Bath Toys

Lisa Estall — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:44:00 GMT

Baby can have fun in the bath with these Patch Flip Finnie Bath Toys. Made of terry cloth cotton, they also squirt water. Each set comes in a resusable plastic case.

These are recommended for ages 10 months and up. I really think they are cute!

It’s $14 and sold at Calliope.

Be The Butterfly, Baby!

Cathy Hale — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Summer is quickly approaching, so it might be a good idea to stock up on beach towels. Check out this unique and fun Bright Butterfly Towel. Your little girls will love fluttering around in these colorful, thick, terrycloth hooded towels. You can also use it to make bath time more fun. What a cute shower or birthday gift idea for baby girl! Shop Chasing Fireflies!

Green Baby: Cuddle Me Clean Wash

Cathy Hale — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Here's a sensible green product for baby that you might not have discovered yet. It's called Cuddle Me Clean Foaming Wash and it's paraben and phthalate free. The company is Green Elly and you can check out their story here. The foaming wash has a gentle vanilla and citrcus scent. This could be your new fave clean baby smell for $12.

This Tea is Not for Sipping

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:31:00 GMT

Most teas I encounter are for drinking, but the Spoiled Mama offers something I have never seen before: Sitz-ing Pretty Postpartum Sitz Tea ($16). Pack the reusable muslin bag with this tea blend of organic herbs, shepherds purse, yarrow and golden seal, then dip it into a warm bath and to help reduce swelling and promote healing. The blend also says it has antibacterial properties that help stave off infection. Anyone try this out?

Some Doras are Still Little Girls

JeanneSager — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:25:00 GMT

Her tween counterpart might be making all the news lately, but Swim and Splash Mermaid Dora is very much your sweet regular bilingual gal.

Part of the Fisher-Price bath line, mermaid Dora earns points for being one of those one-size-fits all toys. Sure, she's made for water, but she does just fine on land thanks to fine hair for kids who like to groom their dolls (none of that molded tub toy plastic hair that steals that pleasure away).

Mermaid Dora still does her best exploring in the tub, where your little waterbug can spin her conch shell necklace and get her flipper a flipping. Because what little kid doesn't pretend to be a mermaid when they're swimming? Come on - girls AND boys buy into that one, and they did way before Ariel start singing and making you shell out for princess gear.

So let Dora take a dip in their tub while she's still a little girl.

A VedaBaby Bath Is Like A Mini Spa Treatment

Lisa Estall — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:10:00 GMT

I discovered this baby skincare collection VedaBaby and really like the products. Inspired by using ancient ayurvedic principles and herbal remedies, VedaBaby is the creation of a pediatrician who wanted to provide parents with products containing the purest ingredients for their babies. I've been using... Shampoo and Body Wash for my baby and it feels like she's getting a mini spa treatment since the smell is really calming.

It's $40 a jar but if you want to splurge, it would make a nice treat for your children.

Whole Foods Market Exclusive: Peter Rabbit Organics

Lisa Estall — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Peter Rabbit Organics have come out with some baby-friendly products. Their Carrot and Pumpkin Baby Shampoo and Wash ($14.99) sounds yummy doesn’t it? It’s free of harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances and colors.

For chafed, sensitive skin, try Peter Rabbit Organics Intense Therapy Cream for Baby ($12.99). This cream has Manuka beeswax in it.

Both products are only sold at Whole Foods Market.

For the month of March, the store is celebrating everything "Whole Baby" so check them out if you live near one.

Beep And Build In The Bath

Lisa Estall — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:39:00 GMT

I am looking for bathtub toys and came upon The Beep and Build. I know my son would love this. This toy is a 3-D car puzzle and comes with an oil can that squirts water.

I think this can provide hours of bath time fun in our home and will encourage my kid to take his bath! The Beep and Build is recommended for kids age 2 years and up.

You can find it at Fao Schwarz for $14.

Aura Cacia Foam Baths Turn Tubs into Spas

Heather Kuldell — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:03:00 GMT

The magic of warm baths should not be overlooked. While aromatherapy may not treat every ailment, it can work wonders on fussy kids, cranky kids and even stuffy kids. Aura Cacia creates some particularly luxurious scents, using sustainable sourcing and avoiding 100%-synthetic ingredients. The Clearing Foam Bath, made with eucalyptus and citrus essential oils, brews a soothing, sinus-opening soak for little ones — anyone, actually. Each 2.5-ounce pouch sells for $2.99, and could be used for a bath or two, depending on how much foam you like. Baby bathers can try out their own blend of milk and oat.

Sweetheart Ducks For Your Valentine

Lisa Estall — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:37:00 GMT

Have a splashing good time with these rubber ducks. These sweetheart duckies stare loving at each other and

are paired together on a pink platform. The girl duck is of course the white one with the red lipstick. Do these lovebirds belong in your...

bathtub?

They are $5.95 and sold on mookiegifts.com

Houston, We Have a Bathtub

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:38:00 GMT

Lisa’s rocket post reminded me of a space toy that recently caught my eye. The accurately named, but somehow slightly dirty-sounding Squirters For the Tub set features five space-themed bath toys. Bathers as young as 18 months can shoot water from aliens, planets, space ships and stars as they explore the galaxy from the safety of sudsy tubs. Each piece is made of chunky, phthalate-free plastic. (Parents may want to consider some goggles while supervising.)

Available at Arsa Toys for $9.

California Baby Calendula Cream Hits the Dry Spot

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:08:00 GMT

The Droolicious crew have been fans of California Baby for awhile, and the love grows as we dig deeper into its product line. As you can tell from our recent humidifier obsession, we’re battling dry skin. Seriously, seriously dry skin. If you’re feeling our itchy pain, check out California Baby Calendula Cream. The fluffy cream features calendula -- aka marigolds -- to help heal and soothe irritated skin. Parents review it favorably to treat eczema, cradle cap and plain old dryness. It’s like an old-fashioned salve minus the petroleum-jelly texture.

Available at Drugstore.com for $12.09.

Swankie Blankie Hooded Towels for Boys and Girls

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:04:00 GMT

From bibs to shopping-cart covers, Swankie Blankie's handmade-in-Texas collection has expanded quite a bit beyond the handful of layette items founder Susie Grant started by making for friends and family in 2000. Unfortunately for us, these hooded towels aren't among the items the company sells in grown-up sizes, but your wee ones will enjoy snuggling up in them while you dive into one of Swankie Blankie's adult robes or super-soft throw blankets.

Sized for newborns through preschoolers, the Camo and Pink Swirl hooded towels are $38 each at Dimples & Dandelions.

7 Days of Baby Proofing: Blending in is Best

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:26:00 GMT

For those of you with treacherous toddlers, you’ve probably learned that the more you draw attention to danger the more they’re attracted to it. That was the thinking behind the design of this discreet tub spout cover.

KidCo’s Extra Soft Bath Tub Spout Cover, $7.99, uses camouflage to keep kids away from it. And since the spout seems to be just the right height for bumping heads and banging teeth, the padded surface will offer some protection. Now that my son likes to practice what I call his tap dancing/running man moves in the tub, think I better invest in one of these before he has a major wipeout.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: New Skip Hop Bath Time Products

Chris Ford — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:33:00 GMT

We've already told you about the new bath toys and ladybug organizer from Boon, but Skip Hop was also showing off some new bath products at ABC. The Tubby toy organizer keeps the tub tidy and the Moby spout cover is a cool rubber duck alternative for the faucet.

The Tubby organizer is made of washable neoprene and mesh, and has suction cups to stick to your bathroom tile. The Moby spout cover is adjustable to 80% of tub spouts. Both will be available in January or February of 2009.

The Tubby will retail for around $20.00 and the Moby will retail for around $13.00. Check out other Skip Hop products at skiphop.com.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: New Bath Toys From Boon

Chris Ford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:30:00 GMT

There were a lot of fun things at the Boon booth at ABC this year, like these new bath toys - Odd Ducks, Water Bugs, Splat and Scrubble. All are BpA, Phthalate and PVC free and under $9.99.

Odd Ducks are rubber ducks with modern graphics, and my favorite part is they don't have any holes where water can get in and get moldy (bottom left in picture). Water Bugs (bottom right) is a game of sorts where kids can scoop up floating bugs (that kind of look like jacks) with a net. Splat (top left) is a floating ring toss game and Scrubble (center) is an "interchangeable scrub set" where kids can practice scrubbing themselves in the tub.

All should be available in six weeks. Check out all the bath toys at Boon.com.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Bug Pod From Boon

Chris Ford — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:06:00 GMT

You've probably seen the Frog Pod from Boon before. It's the bath toy scoop that doubles as a holder for all the toys. One of the many cool things they've announced at ABC is the Bug Pod. It works the same as the Frog Pod, except that it takes up less wall space and has a higher capacity scoop. And of course it's shaped like a ladybug. In the picture they've decorated the side of the wall of their booth with them, but in your home they'll probably look best stuck to the wall in the bathroom.

Bug Pod, available in stores soon for around $29.00 (though they're $34.99 on the web site). Check them out at BoonInc.com

7 Days of Skin Care - Baby Silk by MD Moms

SunnyChanel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:19:00 GMT

You know what I love? Baby skin. It’s so amazing silky, smooth and irresistibly soft. Our baby’s skin is oh so precious and needs to be cleaned and protected with the utmost care, so I’m going to trust the doctors on this one. Baby Silk by MD Moms is a skin line developed by two pediatrician moms. So they know baby skin professionally and personally.

A great way to get started is with their Baby Basics 1.2.3.4 set. ($58) The pack includes a Gentle All-Over Clean Hair and Body Wash, a natural Sea Silk Sponge, Daily Skin Protection Moisturizing Balm and their Soothing Bottom Relief Diaper Rash Cream. All their products are hypoallergenic and clinically tested. One warning, the daily skin protection balm not only is good for your baby but it great on your hands, you might end up using more of it on yourself than your baby!

7 Days of Bath Time- Go With The Flo!

SunnyChanel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:14:00 GMT

Bath time can be a fun filled water wonderland. Or you can be like me and confront tub time with dread, fear and oodles of caution. Slippery surfaces! Questionable temperatures! Killer water! One other hazard that plagues all baby washers is the hard metal of the faucet. Sure you can get a little plastic inflatable cover, but really is that good enough for your precious offspring? Heck no.

Enter the ‘Flo’ Water Diverter & Faucet Cover. It turns your regular flow of water into a “gentle and cascading waterfall”, dispenses bubble bath at the touch of a button plus it protects your kid from that fearful faucet. Oh and it looks pretty cool too kinda like a lime green space ship. $14.99 here.

7 Days of Bath Time: Bath Seat

Erin Behan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:02:00 GMT

After tossing two plastic baby bathtubs to the curb for Brooklyn-style freecyling due to their obnoxious size and my son's displeasure with a pre-formed mold of how to lay in a bathtub, I've turned to a bath seat. There are very few bath seats out there (and I'm not sure why), and the Dream Baby Fold-Away Bath Seat is tops as it allows your baby to sit without your active support and folds up flat. I've got another month or so before I can test it out--Devin needs just a tad bit more sit-up strength before it's gonna work for him--but I have high, high hopes.

Green Up Bath Time with MethodKid Squeaky Green 3-in-1 Shampoo

Heather Kuldell — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:20:00 GMT

You may know Method for its naturally derived household cleaners that not only smell of scents like french lavender, sweet water and cucumber, but look chic. (As chic as dish soap and all-purpose cleaner can be.) What you may not know is that they do skincare.

The rubber duckie-esque bottle of MethodKid Squeaky Green 3-in-1 Shampoo is a great size and shape for smaller hands. The fluid squeezes easily through the bottom and can be used as a body wash, shampoo and a conditioner. And of course, the mix is pediatrician tested and hypo-allergenic. Fewer bottles and chemicals in the bathroom equals a cleaner environmental conscious. ~~There’s just one problem: Why isn’t the bottle recyclable?~~ UPDATE: The bottle is recyclable, but the symbol is hidden by the feet.

Available at methodhome.com for $7 fuzzy peach or crisp apple scents.

Mommas and Kids Agree: Lush Bath Bombs Rule

Heather Kuldell — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:04:00 GMT

OK, just this momma and her kid agree, but bath time has become exponentially better with Lush bath bombs. Drop one in a full tub, and like an Alka Seltzer, the water fizzes up and oh what a relief it is.

I originally picked some bath bombs up to unwind me, but after seeing me drop one into the tub, my son demanded to try one out. I figured I’d set a good example by sharing as the company makes cosmetics and bath products with organic fruits and veggies, essential oils, animal-free ingredients, and “safe synthetics.”

The “Anything But Ordinary” gift set ($38.95) features some of the better, bigger bombs, including Avobath (lemongrass and avocado), Supernova (orange and cognac), Big Blue (sea salt, lemon and lavender), Haagenbath (mint and cocoa), Honey Bee (honey, Rhassoul mud and aloe vera), and Sex Bomb (jasmine and rose). Besides the fizzing, each bombs releases skin softeners and intense scents. Some do a little more, like Big Blue and Sex Bomb, which turn the bath water — but not tubs or people — blue and pink, respectively. Others, such as Supernova, release paper confetti.

Critter Spiller

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:58:00 GMT

Underwater scuba diver, got it. Giant bag of pool toys, got them too. But what my son likes the most is to simply pour, strain, scoop, (and sometimes taste test) water. If you can’t hack sharing your pasta strainer, ladles and measuring cups, check out this critter.

For the price, I think there’s a lot of bang for the buck. Ringing in at $5.95, the Caterpillar Spillers from Munchkin, stack, nest and strain for hours of bath time or kiddie pool fun.

Bathtub Kneeling Options

Chris Ford — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:08:00 GMT

Our venerable Fisher Price bathtub kneeler/caddy has finally, after four years, given us all it can give. So I went down to my local Babies R Us to try to get a replacement, and I wasn't very happy with the alternative. The only option I could find was the Safety 1st Tubside Kneeler and Step Stool.

Apparently the Fisher Price version we have isn't available anymore which is too bad really, because it's very simple. It drapes over the side of the tub, holds the soap and has padding for your knees. The Safety 1st version is basically the same thing, except the kneeling portion doubles as a step stool for the kids.

This might seem like a good idea, but it occurred to me in the store that raising the part that you kneel on will make you bend over the tub to wash the kids that much more. And quite frankly my lower back hurts enough when I bathe the kids.

So my solution? I'm using a gardening kneeling pad I got at Target in the dollar section a year ago, and keeping the soap on a shelf.

If you're still interested, check out the Safety 1st Tubside Kneeler and Step Stool, $14.99 from Amazon.com.

First Week Home: 5 Things That Didn't Work Out

editors — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:10:00 GMT

5. Safety 1st "Safe Saver" Bathtub, $12.99 - I'm a sucker for any product that says it saves space, but this sink bathtub, while tiny and collapsible, didn't fit in my fairly standard kitchen sink. In fact, it was a hand-me-down from another set of parents, who didn't want it because it didn't fit in their sink. Even when we used it in the bathtub, it felt flimsy and a little unsafe. Luckily, for only $4 more, you can buy the Safety 1st Comfy Bath Center -- which has served us quite well.

4. Timboo baby washcloths - Cute, right? Different shapes, different colors, and made of organic sustainable bamboo. Except that the brightly colored dye bled onto everything, and the soft bamboo cloth left little pieces of lint all over the baby. Maybe that's why Dagny Baby no longer seems to sell them.

3. Orthodontic pacifiers - Our lactation consultant made us throw these away; apparently, if your baby is having trouble latching, they can exacerbate the problem.

2. Johnson's Nursing Pads - They're bulky, the adhesive doesn't work, and if they get wet they completely soak through.

1. Avent Bottles: Newborn Starter Set - We registered for a bunch of these thanks to the persuasive wiles of Babies R Us. Not only did our baby hate the hard plastic nipple, but the freakin things leaked every time we tried to use them. Our friend, who uses these bottles with her toddler, says the leaking thing stops when you get used to tightening the bottles correctly. But as the parent of a newborn, my hand-eye coordination was not that advanced, and I wound up returning 2 boxes to the store.