January 2008 Archives

It's probably safe to assume that all our kids had Robeez soft sole shoes as infants. I am excited to announce that they finally came out with rubber sole shoes!! The same cute designs and comfortable fit, these new shoes come in sizes 12-16 months, 16-20 months, 20-24 months. My daughter is a size 8 (25 in French sizing), the 20-24 months is a little big for her but the elastic ankles keep it on her so she can grow into them. Which, as we all know is a nice feature to have! Just be careful not to buy too big because it will cause them to trip. We were lucky enough to preview these shoes before the official launch date of Feb. 4th. As soon as I put these on my daughter she loved it and would not take them off. I have tried to get her to wear really nice patent leather shoes that she won't put on and after struggling to get it on her, she will kick them off as soon as I turn away. I've stopped imposing my vanity on her and now let her wear what is comfortable, which sounds obvious but not so easy to do! With these, I get the best of both worlds. The entire shoe bends with each step and the "tredz" provide great traction for smooth surface floors (I won't say no more spills but the less the better, right?). It has elastic laces and a velcro strap so they are way easier to put on than the original Robeez so your independent toddlers will have no trouble putting it on themselves. I would say these are most comparable to See Kai Run, which are great and super cute, but the Robeez have more flexibility with the sizing (I am getting tired of buying new shoes every other month) and these stay on so much better. There is more support for the entire foot which is not only important for those learning to walk - the runners need protection even more! The best part is, the boys selections are just as cute as the girls. There are nice loafer styles, as well as, fun themes like trucks so you will have something for every occasion. They are $42 and will be available at Robeez online and all the usual places they are sold.

How many times have you heard people preach "No TV" for your kids? Well, here is another reason to motivate the cause. My baby daughter started throwing up at night, every night and only at night at her last feeding. The first few days that this happened, I attributed it to my older daughter's contagious stomach virus. But it didn't make that much sense since she only threw up at night and otherwise, she looked fine. I went through the list, formula (but I didn't change formula), indigestion (but only at night?), lactose intolerance (but again, only at night?), nothing made sense. Then after more searches on Google, I come upon an interesting theory - motion sickness caused by TV. During the day, the TV is never on. At night at the last feeding, my husband and I watch our shows and the baby obligingly partakes. She isn't watching in full view, she turns her head away from me toward the tv so I figure she isn't REALLY watching. I never thought TV could be damaging to her digestive system! At night when the room is dark, there is no point of reference to stabilize the movement of the TV so our bodies think we are moving with the motion on TV. This causes vertigo and in people with sensitive gag reflexes (which my daughter has) it will cause vomiting. We tested out this theory and it has been 2 days since her last vomiting. Good thing because all that vomiting caused severe dehydration that lead to constipation. It was not pretty. I will spare the details but I'll just say the procedure to un-constipate her involved gloves, vaseline and lots and lots of baby wipes!!! No, not pretty at all.

Everyone has their own parenting style and I am in no way trying to inflict mine on anyone. A friend of mine sent me an article about an episode of Oprah where a 3 year old girl has shocking issues with her self esteem. She is obsessed with her looks, she is afraid of being fat so does not eat and must wear lipstick to feel ok. I just can't stop thinking about it. As a parent our roles and influences as parents are so daunting sometimes I lie awake at night in sheer horror, as I am sure all of you have experienced.

As potential parents, we worry about having "babies" because we fear we won't know how to handle a floppy infant, sleepless nights and diaper duty. But honestly, how many times do you think therapists diagnose severe diaper rash as the cause of emotional breakdowns and depression? What we really need to worry about is how to make our children into healthy adults. As new parents, we don't immediately think of the things that will affect our children's emotional health down the road, we think of the needs that need to be met right now, like food, laundry, bath, getting to school on time, not missing a doctor's appointment, etc.

Our most important jobs as parents is making sure our kids are well fed. Well, at least in my opinion - being a Chinese mom, food = love. But for all moms finding ways to make eating more fun is always a challenge. I have found that fun spoons, plates and bibs always help. I have a cupboard full of colorful plates, cups and bowls. If you are a fan of Takashimaya, you will appreciate this adorable set of chick bib and spoon. I am especially drawn to this because my 2 year old daughter is a chicken under the Chinese zodiac symbols. I just wish they have a little piggie too for my little one. They have the most amazingly cute merchandise and their kids stuff is no different. I would rotate this bib with other less exciting bibs to keep things interesting because even for a snob like me, $28 for a bib is a bit on the extreme end. Spoon ($12) and bib ($28) at Takashimaya.

OK, this is not exactly the Persian rug you've dreamed of but you have to admit it is much better than the alternative ABC color block tiles. If you have modern decor this would go really nicely in your living room but even if you don't, like me, this is so much more pleasant to your senses. I have put away the ABC tiles from my older daughter's crawling days and I am dreading pulling them back out now that my younger one is getting ready to squirm around on the floor, so I am really excited about this. My house is already sans rugs (spills, potty training, etc have banished them to storage since my rug cleaner told me it is not advisable to have them cleaned on a monthly basis) so it will be nice to see something back on the cold bare hardwood. These Skip Hop tiles come in 3 color combos, the pink/brown shown here, a blue/gold and a bright colorful one (don't get that one). Between the blue/gold and pink/brown, it should fit your decor well enough to not make your mother cringe when she visits, or at least your house will look a little bit less like the Romper Room. It is big, 72" × 54", so you don't have to keep pulling your crawler back to the center. And unlike most foam tiles, it is actually safety rated for babies under 3 years old, even though we all use them for our babies (chewed corners, anyone?). At Giggle for $80.

BabySoy now has toddler clothes! The new collection is limited but what they do have is totally adorable, I want everything!! I have the BabySoy baby stuff and they are so cuddly and soft and makes you feel good that you are instilling environmental awareness in your baby. You may not think these little efforts make a difference but don't underestimate what your little ones understand. They pick up subtleties better than adults and having parents who are conscientious, even if they are not completely obsessive and diligent, about the environment and the importance of using organic and sustainable products will have an effect on their growing impressionable brains. Plus, you get the benefits and goodness of organic. I only feed my kids organic. I don't necessarily eat all organic myself because if you think about it, we are eating to sustain ourselves but children are literally being formed and their little bodies are being made up of whatever you feed them. Do you really want hormones and pesticides in their cell make up? I have heard of girls in developing countries start their period at age 6 because of all the growth hormones in milk, eggs and meat. And little boys are growing mammary glands because of the same hormones. Think about that. If nothing else, stick to organic milk, eggs and meat. If you want to take things further and the products are easily available, like the BabySoy fashion, why not take advantage? Every little bit counts and hopefully by the time our kids grow up they will have the wherewithal to clean up our mess. Those who can't do, teach, right? Soy Soft Zip Hoodie for $32 and 2-in-1 Vintage Whale Tee $28 available at BabySoy Organics.

As if we didn't just eat our way through the holidays, Valentine's (a.k.a. a great excuse to eat chocolate) is just around the corner. Last year my daughter received a bucket of Hershey Kisses from her Bigsy (Grandpa). While a very sweet gesture, my daughter wanted to eat the entire bucket the moment it was delivered. When she wasn't looking, I threw most of them away and hid the rest for special treats. This year instead of sweets give something meaningful that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend The First Adventures of Incredible You ($32.95), a wonderful personalized book from Custom Made for Kids. We received one and now it is a must read every night before bedtime. The story flows through various activities a child will do with various family members. My 3 year old daughter can't believe all of her loved ones are a part of the story. My 1 year old son doesn't get it yet, but I know he will love it soon. Personalizing and ordering is very easy. Complete a simple questionnaire online and submit the order. Available at Custom Made for Kids.

Tot Snob Coupon Code: Type ts15 (note: code is case sensitive) to receive a 15% discount. Offer expires February 5.

Venti Oval Tub -14.5"W x 19"L x 9.5"H ($75) and Large Lunchbox - 10"L x 6"W x 7.5"H ($48)

Tired of the basket storage look? I am. The basket liner always shrinks in the wash and eventually I can never get it back over the edges. Also, I hate the way dust collects in the grooves. It's impossible to remove. But most importantly, I just want something different. Everyone has baskets and basket liners. MacBeth Collection creates unique storage solutions with style. The company decoupages tins shaped as ovals, squares, vintage lunchboxes, or carrying caddies. With the decor a permanent part of the outside, you never have to worry about the way it fits and keep them clean with a simple wipe.

Whether your taste is classic or modern, MacBeth has something for you. Currently, the design portfolio combines more than 200 patterns ranging from stripes to paisley to skulls with virtually every print available to match each product. You can personalize your tin with a monogram or add various icons. Don't think they are just for the kids. Get a couple small tins to organize your mommy desk. Prices range from $25-$75. Available at Her Haven Gifts.

I have 2 girls so I always have to listen to my girlfriends with boys bemoan that girls shoes are so cute and boys shoes are not. Well, that's just not true. OK, girls shoes are extremely cute and being girls we are naturally drawn to them, but boys shoes are also super cute. I mean, any shoe shrunken to a tiny tenth of the size is going to be cute no matter what. I always see cute boys shoes so here is to the little boys out who deserve adorable shoes like the rest of us and their moms who pine for masculine cuteness. Baby Style is having their annual shoe sale so look ahead and buy bigger sizes. You never know when that next growth spurt will be.

pedipeds^TM has the absolute best selection on shoes in general and their boys shoes are always just as cute as the girls. I love the Aidan, it doesn't try to appeal to the mom's by being too pretty, it is rugged and as adorable as your bundle of energy. $30 at pediped^TM.

I love Vincent for sporty hip shoes. They are great for play but cute enough to go to any special events with you without a glitch. On Sale at Baby Style for $32.99.

Morgan and Milo are mainly for cuteness. The soles do not bend so well so running becomes a problem. These are for shopping trips or going out but I keep them away from playgrounds. On Sale at Baby Style for $29.99.

These Tip Toey Joey are great for your stay put cuties. They will transition to crawlers but once they are ready to get up and go you will want to get leather soles for safety. On Sale at Baby Style for $19.98.

We want our readers to know other websites that offer up advice, gifts, and fashion for Tot Snobs. Check out this week's mommy must reads. Happy Friday.

Marie Chantal Designer Clothes

Lil' Sugar - Uncovers Marie-Chantal for Lil Fashion Week.

Mommy Track'd - Interviews Jill Hennessey-Brown, VP of J.Crew and Mom of 2 boys, about juggling career and motherhood.

The Moms' Buzz - Need a gift for Dad on Valentine's Day? Read the Top Ten Myths of Men's Jewelry

Swanky Moms - Low rise jeans have you flashing? Check out Blush: Topless Undershirts