Sun Smarties Parasol

One of my biggest issues the first summer of Andy's life was how to take him outside. I was told not to allow him to be in direct sunlight until he was six months old, but I didn't know how to keep him out of the sun without keeping him indoors. I wish I'd known of the Sun Smarties Parasol. It has UPF 50+ protection, and can clip to almost anything, including all sizes of stroller tubing. It can also be used as a freestanding umbrella. I feel this is an essential product for any baby this summer.

Have a Sunburn-Free Summer with a UV Protective Long-Sleeved Sunsuit

Thinking about going swimming as the weather gets warmer? Well, last year another mother told us about these great “sunsuits” that eliminate the need for constantly applying sunblock when you’re at the pool or beach. This High Tide Long-Sleeved Sunsuit is rated UPF 50+. It has a zippered front for easy access, and its made from a lightweight nylon/lycra material that is light, comfortable, and quick-drying. This sunsuit is available in sizes from 6-12 months all the way up to 6T.

Review: Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon

We received the Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon a few months ago as a Christmas gift, and I wanted to tell you all what we thought of this great little wagon.

The wagon comes unassembled, and requires you to do a little assembly involving a screwdriver and a hammer. For the most part this was easy but there were two parts that tripped me up. First, although they are marked, the left and right front wheels are easy to get confused. I ended up putting them on backwards, and it required an email to customer service and a new part in order to fix. The other difficult part was attaching the handle. For some reason I couldn’t get all the holes lined up in order to put a pin in. It took some persistence and a little elbow grease and I was finally able to get the pin through to attach the handle to the body. The rest of the assembly was easy.

The wagon features two seats, one forward facing, and one rear facing. In between the seats is a place for your passengers to put their legs. There are four cup holders inside the wagon too. We usually stick a sippy cup in there and a few water bottles whenever we go for a walk. The seats fold down to form a flat bottomed wagon. This will be great when Andy has outgrown the wagon: we can use it to bring a picnic to the beach, and so on. There’s also a small compartment at the back of the wagon that you can use for extra storage.

The wagon itself is very smooth. It has hard rubber wheels, so they absorb a little of the bumpy ride, and they also offer decent traction. The front wheels rotate 360 degrees, so you can always turn in every direction. I find that its pretty easy to pull the wagon. I usually pull it behind me, although it can get uncomfortable after a long walk. It’s definitely less comfortable than pushing a stroller around, but Anderson definitely seems to love it a lot more.

Li'l Squirt Baby Pool

A great way to cool off in the summer is with a baby pool. But if you would rather not have one of those in your backyard for whatever reason, another good option is the Li'l Squirt Baby Pool. There is a mat area that keeps a small amount of water on it, so it's safer than a regular baby pool, there's 3D floating fish and other entertaining undersea graphics, and there are sprayers on it too. I think this would be a lot of fun for an older baby or young toddler, and all you need to attach is a garden hose!

Ride a futuristic Plasma Car!

I love this Plasma Car! It's made from durable ABS plastic, and relies solely on foot power. It'll go zooming on any smooth level surface, and it'll even hold up to 220 pounds so Mom and Dad can take a spin too. Don't be surprised, though, when your toddler starts asking to watch more Jetsons.

Step 2 Water Wheel Play Table - Lots of Outdoor Fun

In our part of the country, it's going to start warming up in a few weeks and we'll be looking for fun activities to do outside again. This water table from Step 2 would make a great toy for hours of imaginative and fun outdoor play. It's got a waterwheel to create falling water and two separate sections that function as canals, moats or lakes. A cup and two toy boats are also included. The durable all-plastic construction means this toy is suitable to leave outside in all weather, I'd just leave it out of the sun so it doesn't discolor or become brittle.

Sand and Water Trowel

This looks like a great little toy for the sandbox or beach. This Sand and Water Trowel has a shovel on one end and a scoop on the other. It's perfect for digging holes and trenches, as well as fetching water. And at only $4, it's a perfect addition to every beach bag.

Classic Metal Speedster

Andy received a car just like this classic metal speedster for Christmas. He loves getting on it and riding around, even if he hasn't quite mastered the art of pushing himself forward yet. This car is a high quality metal car with the colors and decals of a classic speedster. It is solidly built and will last for generations and will only look better as it develops a few scuffs and a patina. If you use the code FILLY10 at checkout, you can receive 10% off your order!

AirCrib

The AirCrib is a great way to keep your infant contained whether your travelling, heading to the beach, or out in the woods camping. This crib can be set up in less than a minute, and fits infants up to 28 pounds. You could use this as a play pen, a crib, or both! It comes with a fitted sheet, hand pump, mattress and a carrying sack.

Skuut Walking Bike

A friend of mine recently bought the Skuut Walking Bike for her toddler. I was surprised since I thought that was a little young for a two wheeler! But this is a great idea. It's a walking bike that helps your child learn balance and eventually to ride a real bike. The seat height can be adjusted, it is made otu of heat-treated soft and hard woods, and it is coated with a non-toxic lacquer. It's also safe too. To start or stop, all your child has to do is put his feet down. There's felt filling that won't let the front wheel turn too sharply, and there are no sharp parts or places for little fingers to get stuck. This bike is great for indoors or outdoors, and it's light and therefore very portable. I know my friend is very happy with this bike, and when Andy gets a little older I will probably be buying it for him too.

Plasma Car

If your toddler needs a car, consider the Plasma Car. This car is made from state of the art plastics so it's rugged and durable. It doesn't use batteries or any other power supply besides your child's energy, so it's quiet too! All you need is a flat surface to use. We love the sleek look of it and know that your child will too!

Two Sleds Perfect for Toddlers

We've moved to an area that rarely gets snow. While I don't miss it, I do for Andy's sake. I loved sledding as a child. If your children are lucky enough to have snow to play in during the winter, here are two sleds we've found at Sensational Beginnings that seem to be good options for toddlers. First is the Kringle Sled. It's in the shape of Santa's sleigh and has a a back and sides to keep your child from falling out and safe from the snow. Good for kids up to 30 lbs.

There's also the Bambino Pull Sled, which is great because it holds babies as young as 4 months old. It's made of kiln-dried birch plants, has hand carved willow rails on the back and sides, and has a slippery plastic bottom that guarantees a smooth ride. It holds up to 100 lbs and comes completely assembled. The pad is not included but is available on this site.

Moulin Roty Ride-On Truck

Head out on the trail to the wild fronteir on this Moulin Roty Ride-On Truck. This solid wooden scooter is made of varnished beech and built by hand to last for years. The truck comes nearly fully assembled, you'll just have to add the canopy and you're ready to go. The canopy covers a nice little storage area to tote around blocks, stuffed animals and so on.

Whirly Bounce Rider

I've said before that Andy loves being thrown around and anything that moves. He's still a little young for this next toy, but I'm sure it'd be a favorite of his. The Whirly Bounce Rider is three toys built into one. It is a bouncer, seesaw, and merry go round! It's sturdy with a tough, inflatable bouncing ball and stay put base (which must be weighted). It's good for single child families because another child isn't needed for the seesaw part. And it supports children up to 70 lbs, so even the heavier and older ones can take part!