For babies between 8 and 32 lbs. Continuing the reviews on infant carriers, today I will review the Infantino Front2Back Rider. I am sure it is no secret, after my last review, Infantino is a favorite brand of mine. And the Front2Back Rider is no exception. Pros: Light weight Comfortable for both petite and larger people It is super to buckle and unbuckle Soft, memory-foam type straps assure comfort for the wearer Like the SlingRider, it has fantastic, breathable mesh to assure good airflow Extra storage pocket for keys or other small objects (think extra pacifier!) “Tidy Wraps” help contain excess straps Cons: None It is a rarity when a product truly has nothing under the Cons section,...

The Cloud B Sea Turtle is a fun addition to the nighttime routine. My kids say it helps them get to sleep because is has a soothing light. I like it because it turns their entire room into a planetarium, with choices of blue or green stars (and a moon). Stargazing has always been a special time for me with the kids and, while they can’t always figure out what I’m pointing at, they like the time lying on the grass staring up at the sky with daddy and talking about ‘stuff.’ While the Cloud B Sea Turtle, and it’s other endangered animal constellation brothers, can’t replace that experience, it reminds of good times we’ve had and to come. The lights turn...

The Renaissance of the Sling is in full effect and with many, many brands available, which ones are worth your money – and your time? Through the next few reviews, I will focus mainly on the ins and outs of various slings – pros and cons from both a parent’s point of view as well as my perceived pros and cons from my child’s point of view. Today we focus on the popular HotSlings. So, with newborn in arm, I tried the HotSlings over a couple of days. With the informative DVD and step-by-step picture instructions there was no way I could do anything wrong and it left my mind at ease about dropping baby! I practiced putting it on and taking it off to make sure I had a fluid motion. While,...

New dads, you don’t know it yet, but your back is going to be killing you in a few days. When you take that baby home in the little carrier on the first day, you’re going to feel a little twinge when your spine curves a little to the side of your favored arm. Because the baby carrier is wide, you have to hold it out even further from your body than a suitcase or briefcase, which feels very unnatural. Surprisingly, someone has just invented a gadget that might make this a little easier on you. Check out the Baby Lift strap, a very low-tech device that gives you a little more support in carrying the baby and his carrier. The strap goes over a shoulder and attaches to one side of the...

Boon Snack Ball – Simple, but elegant, our kids fight over these little balls filled with goldfish or other snacks. I don’t put them in their lunches though, for fear of losing them in the crowd. The ball breaks in half for easy cleaning, but the orange (or pink) top also swivels open for easy open closed for snacks. $6 from Amazon and BabiesRUs.

(Editor’s note: Here are more arguments in favor of cloth diapers. Everyone needs to make the best informed choice on this “paper versus plastic-type” debate, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to know the facts.) Cloth diapering your young one’s bum is not only eco-friendly; it offers a solution to the highly absorbent chemicals found in disposable diapers. Consider the following. *Babies in cloth diapers have fewer diaper rashes.1 *Cloth diapers are soft on baby’s delicate skin.1 *Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP), which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. SAP has killed children after ingesting as...

We had a chance to meet the inventor, Jose Bensoussan, of the Ubimed Cleanoz Nasal Aspirator Kit at the recent ABC baby and kids product show (2008) and he told a compelling story about this new device. The Cleanoz aspirator is meant to replace the rubber aspirator bulb given by hospitals to new parents. Many parents have been suspicious of the bulb since there is no way to really clean it out or sterilize it and it’s used inside the mouth and nose of very small babies. Better to leave it on the ground the next time it rolls off the changing table and use it as a dog pull toy. The Cleanoz does the job far better and easier using suction to gently pull mucous into a little balloon. After...

Baby Light and Clip – Nail Clipper for Babies If you’ve ever struggled to cut a baby’s finger or toenails, you’ll love this little gadget. It’s a very simple little tool that incorporates a basic baby fingernail clipper and a light so you can clip in the dark while they are sleeping. And, if you’ve ever cut down too close and actually cut your baby (yes, it does happen) because baby was struggling, or you couldn’t see, this clipper has finger guard so you can’t push in too deep. This may seem like just another gadget to some, but your kids will really appreciate it, up to eight years old. And the price is right at $14.99 MSRP and right now only...

A dad shopping at a Best Buy store in Phoenix apparently forgot that his infant girl was with him and left her in his car Thursday morning, Phoenix Fire reported. [From Shopping dad forgets infant in car] Maybe we new dads need to put a post-it on the windshield that says, “Don’t forget the baby!” On one hand, I can understand how people live very complicated stressed lives, but then I wonder how this can occur. One time — and my daughter remembers it and reminds me all the time — I walked away from the car and left her locked inside. However, she was six years old, my wife was with me, and I realized she wasn’t with us within about ten seconds. I ran back...

I doubt I’m the only dad who just doesn’t have the energy to carry a baby AND a baby seat when we travel even though the experts say babies and toddlers need to be more than buckled up in regular adult seatbelts. The Baby B’air Flight Vest has been tested to exceed FAA stress tests for aircraft seats. $35 available in baby and toddler sizes. Flight Vest Travel Harness from Baby B’Air Infant Products