BLOG

Make newborn life easier with the award-winning Boppy® Original Feeding & Infant Support Pillow. Can be used for bottle feeding, propping, tummy time, sitting, and breastfeeding. It offers a variety of cozy soft slipcovers, including Luxe, Organic Cotton, Classic Plus, and Classic fabric Washing is also easy with both pillow and slipcover are machine washable. Available at Target, Buy Buy Baby, Baby List, Walmart, Amazon and more! Price: $29.99

The first kids’ music/story player with Spotify music and audio book streaming featuring Jooki’s patented NFC-enabled ToyTouch® Technology that lets kids use figurines or tokens to operate Jooki with no screens or parent supervision needed. Guided by Montessori education principles, the award-winning Jooki connects through WiFi and Bluetooth, helping parents empower their children to develop creativity and emotional awareness through their own access to a wide range of pre-selected songs, music, and stories. Now lower cost, faster, and lighter, Jooki is magic at a kid’s fingertips!

Jooki info:

Price: $112.99

Buy at: https://jooki.rocks/Most_popular

Ages: 3 and up. 

Website: www.jooki.rocks

Connecticut families now have access to a brand new donation site for their new and gently used children’s books.

Who

Meet Hindi’s Libraries, the Long Island-based nonprofit that ships children’s books to families in need around the world. Hindi’s Libraries was founded in honor of Dr. Hindi Krinsky, a beloved educator and mother who passed away due to Crohn’s disease in 2018. Since then, Hindi’s Libraries has donated over 275,000 [1] [2] books to underserved communities across all 50 states, India, Israel, Africa, Haiti and Puerto Rico.

Pina Basone, aka Pina Bird, is the incredible children’s author bringing Hindi’s Libraries to Connecticut! Pina’s published works include “Chicken Livers and Artichokes,” “Fred the Super Friend,” and “Fred the Super Saves the Mangroves.”

What

All new and gently loved children’s and young adult books donated will be accepted and rehomed through Hindi’s Libraries.

When and Where

The new Hindi’s Libraries donation site will be housed by Coldwell Banker Realty. Donation bins will be available 24/7 as an outdoor book box has been placed right outside the door when the office is closed.

Address:

1086 Long Ridge Rd.

Stamford, CT 06903

Why

In low income neighborhoods, the ratio of books to children is 1:300- that’s ONE book shared by THREE HUNDRED children. With your help, Hindi’s Libraries hopes to build a better tomorrow by offering children the opportunity to learn and grow through reading.

To learn more about Hindi’s Libraries and how you can help, visit www.hindislibraries.org or send a message to info@hindislibraries.org. Hindi’s Libraries is also @hindislibraries on all social media platforms and would love to hear from you!

To learn more about Pina Basone and her inspiring books, visit www.pinabirdbooks.com. 

Happy New Year! It’s a time of big resolutions and new beginnings. It's also the perfect opportunity to get better at taking care of our mental health. Let's talk about three ways to start on the right foot this year by prioritizing your mental health!

No. 1: Put Boundaries in Place
Boundaries help protect you from feeling taken advantage of or disrespected. Establishing limitations protects your mental health by giving you a sense of control over your life. Therefore, learning to say “no” is a valuable life skill. It helps you maintain self-worth by empowering you to make choices that align with your values. When we say “yes” to every request, we're more likely to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. By saying “no” mindfully with conviction and respect, you make time for the things that matter without overwhelming guilt and negativity.

When creating emotional boundaries, use your personal values as a guide. Recognize that these limits vary and can be flexible, depending on the situation and the people involved. Set aside social expectations and listen to yourself. Conserve your emotional energy to prevent resentment.

No. 2: Increase Self-Awareness
Increasing self-awareness means being more conscious of your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. When you're more self-aware, you can catch early signs of stress or anxiety and address them before they become more significant problems.

One way to be more self-aware is to keep a journal. This can help you track your moods, symptoms and triggers. It can also be a place to reflect on your daily life. Journaling helps keep you in perspective as it boosts your self-identity and fosters self-growth.

No. 3: See a Counselor or Therapist
As you become more self-aware, you start to recognize issues that reduce your quality of life. It may be a problem that interferes with your life each day or something that causes so much shame or embarrassment that you make it a point to avoid others. These issues may have made you develop unhealthy habits or make life changes that have negatively impacted your personal and professional relationships.

Therapy can help with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, family dynamics, parenting support and more. Spending time with a professional allows you to explore your feelings and unresolved experiences without judgment. Together, you can identify the obstacles, insecurities, and harmful habits keeping you from achieving optimal mental health. 

No matter what steps you choose to take this year regarding your mental health, know that you're not alone. Millions of people struggle with the same issues, and support is available. At Communicare, we offer various services for adults and children who are having issues related to mental health or emotional concerns.

By Communicare

This New Year, when making resolutions with your kids, consider making bath time a learning experience with Dabble & Dollop, the only mixable children’s bath brand. Just think STEM  activity in the tub! No messes or clean up required. Perfect for your dabbling scientist or next master chef or for a bath-adverse child.

“Though the mixing process may seem simple, to a child it is pure magic! They love to ‘innovate’ and create new textures and scents,” believes brand Founder & CEO Stephanie Leshney. “We love to inspire creativity and a love of science.”

It's a Shampoo! It's a Body Wash! It's a Bubble Bath! Dabble & Dollop's 3-in-1 Mixables feature fresh, authentic scents designed to be mixed, kids can customize their own sudsy creations each and every night. Choose from any of its 7 amazing aromas and textures. Use alone or get Creatively Clean and mix them up to create over 125 unique bathing combinations!

“We allow children a safe opportunity to mix scents and textures together to create their own unique concoctions. For example, children can take a dabble (pump) of Strawberry and a dollop (pump) of Vanilla and make a strawberry shortcake bath. Or, a dabble of Tangerine and a Dabble of Lemon for a Citrus Body Wash,” Stephanie explains. “With seven scents and our Cherry on Top Conditioner, there are over 125 unique opportunities for children to customize – the creation of the bubble bath, the bodywash and the shampoo.”

Dabble & Dollops’ Original Bubble Box, a great starter set for kids, features Strawberry, Tangerine and Vanilla, and comes with a new recipe booklet, and a silicone bowl to inspire the mixing. The booklet features nearly a dozen recipes and also has space for kids to create and note their own creations. The brand’s Rainbow of Bubbles, featuring all seven 3-in-1 scents, is the ultimate bath experience for kids. 

“The real magic happens when children create their own recipes whether in our custom bowl or in the palms of their hands,” Stephanie adds.

Dabble & Dollops 3-in-1 mixables were its first product and the line is made with sustainable USA-sourced plant-based ingredients, vegan, Certified Tear-Free, dermatologist-tested ultra-mild, and Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty-Free.  All of the brand’s products are vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free. Additionally, Dabble & Dollop’s bath bombs are all natural, gluten-free, artificial dye-free and made in California.

“Our 3-in-1 products feature our SmartScent™ technology. These scents are an optimized blend of natural oils and nature-identical formulated to the strictest EU-standards for purity.,” Stephanie describes. “Our scents were tested to be highly stable and non-irritating (HRIPT testing), and were formulated according to the European Union’s directive and free of known allergens.”

Chicco has launched the first hybrid bottle made available for parents that combines the wellness benefits of pure glass and the convenience of plastic (free of BPA, BPS, PVC and Phthalates). The ChiccoDUO has an inner layer of pure glass with the outer layer plastic to keep it super lightweight and breakproof! In a nutshell, the outside plastic keeps the bottle from getting damaged if it is dropped, but the inside glass ensures your baby’s food stays non-toxic. This game changer bottle has an intuitive latch nipple so there is less air ingestion for babies and helps with colic. 

Golf is hotter than ever in these times of social distancing.  Skip the Polo shirt this year and go for the FlingStick - available with custom head designs (camo, Stars and Stripes, and more) and different sizes! The new alt-golf sport that will definitely create some buzz in your next foursome: FlingGolf

·         2021 Shark Tank feature

·         One FlingStick is all you need to shape shots from tee to green

·         FlingGolf gets everyone out on the course: newbies and veteran golfers, partners, kids

·         Easy to learn - 20/30 min and you’re ready to go!

·         Played on golf courses across the country and around the globe

·         15% off for the holidays using code HOLIDAY15

Check it out: How did New Swarm’s FlingStick become the Gift of the Year?

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH: Gladly Family:

New Toddler Gear Company made by parents for parents just launched this month  Their brand new Anthem Wagon Stroller can be compared to a “more affordable” Veer (all accessories come standard with the price)

Anthem™ All-Terrain Wagon Stroller is truly a blend of form and function. Don't be fooled by its stylish good looks: this cruiser is also an all-terrain workhorse with rugged wheels and a sturdy frame. Plus, "extras" like two XL canopies, parent cup holder and interior mattress come standard!

You'll love these features:

• Easy to maneuver - either push or pull
• Accepts an infant car seat with the adapter, sold separately
• Easy to fold; standing fold or flat for storage
• Large double canopies with breathable mesh inserts
• Sun, Wind, Rain Protection: XL, water-resistant canopies that zip close
• All-terrain tires and a sturdy suspension system
• One-touch, easy to use brake
• Roomy interior that comfortably holds two children up to 50 lbs. Each
• Stow away mattress included to use with seats folded down
• 3-point safety harness for each seat
• Parent cup holder and storage area
• Double snack tray and child cup holders included
• Interior storage with four mesh pockets
• Welded aluminum frame

By Meredith McCue, Marketing Soft Goods Manager

A car seat is one of the first (and most important) items a parent will buy for their child. According to new Chicco research* commissioned ahead of Baby Safety Month, parents spend more time researching car seats than any other baby gear item. The survey also found that 42% of children spend four or more hours in their car seats in a typical week. With so much time spent in one spot, it’s critical that a child’s seat is both safe and comfortable.

So, where should parents start when choosing a car seat? Look for fundamentals like ease of install, child fit, and child comfort – all three play a critical role in child safety. Parents should consider the latest fabric innovations as well. Chicco continues to innovate with a focus on providing parents with performance fabrics that meet their different needs, without compromising safety or comfort.

Car Seat Fabric Innovations

For parents searching for the ultimate in comfort for their child’s car seat, Chicco launched a new solution called Adapt, featuring an innovative combination of patented 37.5® Technology** and breathable mesh. Getting your child to want to sit in their car seat and remain comfortable can be a challenge but Adapt utilizes humidity-regulating fabric that’s permanently embedded with natural volcanic mineral particles to regulate your child’s microclimate by drawing away moisture to maintain a comfortable temperature. Adapt helps parents keep their cool with car seat struggles by keeping kids comfortable!

For families seeking greener solutions, the new ClearTex® line from Chicco is outfitted with fabric that complies with federal car seat flammability standards without the need for added chemical treatments. This was achieved by developing an innovative construction of polyester fibers to produce fabrics that are inherently fire-resistant. Even the seat’s tags and warning labels contain no flame retardant chemicals! Parents can rest assured that ClearTex® car seats contribute to healthier air quality around baby from head to toe, as guaranteed by the GREENGUARD Gold certification that accompanies all Chicco ClearTex® seats.

The Adapt fabric is available on parent-loved Chicco car seats, including the Fit4 Adapt, a convertible model that grows with child from birth to big kid, and the KidFit Adapt Plus, a booster offering customized comfort for every ride. In the ClearTex® line, you’ll find the top-rated KeyFit 35 ClearTex®, an extended-use infant car seat with safety features that make it easy to install and use correctly every time. Additionally, the NextFit Max ClearTex® offers extended legroom and effortlessly transitions between rear-facing to forward-facing modes of use to support children up to 65lbs. Whether you opt for an infant car seat, convertible or booster, your child will be in a seat that is engineered for comfort, safety, and peace of mind.

Everyday Tips for Car Seat Safety

Once you’ve found the perfect seat, the next step is to make sure you’re using it correctly. Whether you’re a car seat pro or preparing for your first little one, Chicco Child Passenger Safety Technician, Josh Dilts adds the below tips:

• An easy at-home test to make sure your car seat is installed securely: When it comes to car seat installation, 55% of parents do not know or are not sure what the ‘inch test’ is. To perform it, grab the car seat or base at the belt path and pull it forward and from side to side. If the seat moves more than one inch in any direction, you should reinstall and test again.

• Winter coat protocol: 40% of parents say it is recommended for a child to wear a winter coat in a car seat with a five-point harness or that they are unsure. Best practice is to remove baby’s bulky coat before car rides, as it can leave baby vulnerable in a crash when the down or poly fill compresses – resulting in a too-loose harness.

For parents looking for additional car seat safety information, www.ChiccoUSA.com offers a variety of resources from how to choose a car seat, car seat comparisons and step-by-step installation videos.

*Results based on Chicco survey of 1,004 U.S. parents in August 2021 

**Learn more at www.thirtysevenfive.com

About the Writer

Meredith McCue is the Marketing Soft Goods Manager at Chicco, pairing her passion for child safety with cutting-edge fabric innovations.  Meredith helps ensure car seat fabrics are functional, comfortable, and fashionable all while meeting necessary testing requirements. As a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, Meredith enjoys introducing new parents to Chicco and educating them on the products that would best fit their individual lifestyle.

KicksBySammy just launched a new, personalized back-to-school collection with striking & fun hand-drawn prints.

The collection, which will make a splash all year round, includes backpacks ($120), laptop sleeves ($55), lunch totes ($42), journals ($42), spiral notebooks ($38), and pouches ($42), in premium materials. For example, the lunch totes are unlike other lunchboxes as they boast comfortable, easy-to-carry, and machine washable neoprene along with a zipper. The backpacks contain a water bottle holder and 4 compartments for convenient carrying and organizing.

Each product can be customized with any name, initials, word, or phrase, for a unique must-have that's less likely to get lost. KicksBySammy.com is also having a site-wide sale through September 2021 for 15% off with code BTS15.