Why is it that no matter how much money I spend on the latest and greatest baby gear, the following week it is outdated and obsolete?! About a year ago, I purchased a convertible car seat for my second child. I was thrilled to be rid of the carrier. Immediately I went to buy a "big boy" car seat for my son. Yippee!! No more carriers to lug and with two car seats, this meant my 3.5 year old daughter could bring a friend home from school for a play date. However, isn't there always a catch...it also meant I had to constantly install and reinstall the car seat from forward to rear facing. Oh the broken nails and ruined manicures I endured until my son's car seat was permanently forward facing. You can imagine my envy when I saw the Combi Zeus in my friend's car. This car seat installs once and swivels from forward to rear facing with the lift of a lever. The swivel seat makes getting her infant in and out easier too. She just swivels the chair sideways and her baby fastens right in. No awkward hunching, bending, or twisting. It accommodates infants from 5 - 50 pounds. While I can't justify spending another $300 on car seat, if you are in the market this is the one. Watch the demo video. Available at One Step Ahead ($299.95).
($5.99 but comes in many variety packs ranging in price), get to the store immediately!! These "magic" paper boards will turn into a colorfully painted page with just plain water. There is a fun brush with water dispenser so your tot will feel like Van Gogh as he creates a perfectly painted scene every time. The best part is, once it dries, he can start all over. Perfect for summer travel because the only mess is water, so it also cools them off when they spill.
($15). I have not had any problems with sunburns and this does not have harsh ingredients found in drugstore sunscreen for kids. It stays on all day, I know because I am not good about re-applying every 2 hours. We have gone to the beach in Hawaii for a full 4 hours without lobster skin of any kind.
($9.99) will save you from accidents and from having to use nasty gas station bathrooms (it is also perfect for amusement parks, if you have waited in line for 2 hours you will know that Murphy's law dictates that once you get to the front of the line, your tot will need to use the bathroom "RIGHT NOW"). This little doo-dad cups right up to your tot's privates to catch the pee-pee without a single drop coming out. There is a powder that becomes a gel so there is no sloshing mess if you cannot find a trashcan right away. I have a girl so, yes, it does work for the ladies as well. She actually loves it. To answer your fears of embarrassment (as I was before I used it), it is actually a very concealed operation so there is no need to worry about the crowds seeing this go down.
