Mom Central: Hot Parenting Products

BabyPlus Prenatal Education System™

At one time, some of us were squawking at Baby Einstein products, DVDs of images and music suggested to speed along a baby’s development. These held special appeal for anxious parents who secretly wished for a budding genius, but worried others who feared today’s ever-increasing pressure on kids to succeed. BabyPlus is sure to make waves again. Their ads read, “You’re never too young to learn. In fact, you don’t even have to be born!” BabyPlus is a unit that an expecting mom wears around her belly. It projects 16 drum-like heartbeat sounds, and the pulsing rhythm gets faster and more complex as the pregnancy advances. These “auditory exercises” are said to boost your baby’s memory and learning skills.

Some of the claims are iffy, such as the “20 years of scientific research” behind its creation. Sure there’s plenty of research on early stimulation and learning of infants in the womb, but that doesn’t mean specifically using BabyPlus will definitely promote early learning or even benefit your baby in any special way. Their website includes pretty intimidating super-tech language: “BabyPlus provides…sequential variations from the imprinted cardiac baseline, thereby exercising formative neurology through elementary information-processing, strengthening memory and comparative functions to reduce normal brain cell death concluding gestation.” (Whew, who would even dare question that!) And their claims of results in infants exposed to BabyPlus are pretty amazing: better sleeping patterns, more relaxed and alert at birth, more ready to nurse, and other small miracles. Some users have claimed wonderful results, with their newborn being highly alert and a great sleeper, but others have noticed poor napping or eating patterns.

The million-dollar question is how can we know if it was BabyPlus that caused positive behaviors or if it was just good ole’ genes? The answer is we can’t know. Clearly, the majority of infants who are calm and easy to care for have never heard the drum beats of BabyPlus. Even though BabyPlus discusses a study (which, important to note, they funded) directly comparing infants who had not been exposed to BabyPlus to those who had (the result not surprisingly that BabyPlus babies did much better), a baby’s environment and genes alone still play a large role in shaping his personality.

The BabyPlus unit must be worn at least 2 hours a day and the batteries need changing weekly. Along with a $149.99 price tag, BabyPlus is a pretty high maintenance product. We’re not yet convinced that simply exposing your infant (in the womb and after) to a variety of music, rhythms, and even your own crooning won’t offer similar results.

Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods—KIDS Products

Would your kids eat frozen food created by a cardiac surgeon with a box labeled  "sensible food"? The label also lists so many "no" or "low" in this and "free" of that, I'm sure I'd need to hide the box to get my child to open his mouth. That said, Dr. Praeger, a real cardiac surgeon has created a KIDS line of heart-healthy foods that are Kosher-certified and made from all-natural ingredients (translation: recognizable stuff…no weird additives) including bite-sized Broccoli, Spinach, or Sweet Potato Littles, and Fishies.

Dr. Praeger offers a decent, healthful food lineup for adults comparable to Gardenburger or Morningstar Farm products, and it's our guess that he's added the KIDS line to appeal to a wider audience. But the only real appeal for kids is the cute two-bite shapes of dinosaurs, stars, and teddy bears. Our taste test revealed that some products fared better than others and all were pretty greasy (surprising since they're low-moderate in fat). The Broccoli Littles had distinctive bits of broccoli cleverly blended into tasty potato filling. The Fishies were also quite tasty, as fish nuggets usually are. The Sweet Potato Littles disappointed, with shreds of potato (more resembling carrots) that remained hard even after extra broiling time. The texture of all was on the mushy side and the Sweet Potato version fell apart before it reached my mouth.

The suggested serving size is 2 pieces (4 for Fishies), although 6 is more realistic for a child. So nutritionwise, if you triple the serving size you get about 120-160 calories, 6-12 grams fat (unsaturated), and 3 grams protein (about 8 grams for Fishies). You'll also get a small amount of fiber, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A depending on the product. Overall, not a bad product but not a great one—from a nutrition and taste perspective. A food free of cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat doesn't automatically give it nutritional value; it just offers damage control for your heart. If your child loves fried finger foods and you're trying to control the fat, these products are worth a try. But to boost nutrients and protein, you’ll need to add other foods to the plate (example: a salad or mixed vegetables tossed with some beans or chick peas).

Each box costs about $2.99 with 8-9 servings, although if you follow our suggested serving it's closer to 3 servings per box. Available at whole foods markets and health food stores or online: http://www.drpraegers.com/.

ThingamaKid Giggle Toons

If your kids love singalongs, they'll love Thingamakid DVD/CD set filled with catchy rhymey tunes of cute laugh-out-loud stories matched with witty cartoons. The DVD presents 10 familiar songs that come alive through animation. In Bingo, a farmer bakes a birthday cake for his dog Bingo, who keeps stealing bites. The farmer unsuccessfully searches for new hiding places hoping to salvage some cake before Bingo's big day. In On Top Of Spaghetti, a forceful sneeze sets loose a meatball from a spaghetti plate and the runaway meatball rolls into the backyard, blooming into a tree full of meatballs covered with sauce. It's goofy stories like these that make the DVD so much fun. The graphics aren't even close to the rising standards of animation titans like DreamWorks and Pixar, but they're so super-colorful and spot on with the lyrics that your kids won't care.

Each song is about 2 minutes and you can either play the DVD in its entirety or select specific songs from a playlist. There are also two fun karaoke options: one with music, lyrics, and voices; the other with music and lyrics only. Visual cues, such as highlighted lyrics, show you when to sing (remember those oldy but goody cartoons where the ball bounced over each word sung?). Included is a CD version with the same songs plus 5 extra. Both are great to pack for long car or airline trips. You can listen to music samples and order this and other singalong DVDs from the ThingamaKid website. Also on the site are games, activity ideas, and resources for parents: http://www.thingamakid.com/.

Scotch-Brite Pad Cleaners

On an average morning, if your kitchen looks anything like mine, your once gleaming stainless steel fridge is decorated with a collage of fingerprints and your ceramic stovetop wears beads of splattered oil and dried-up beef bits from last night’s stir-fry. Before you rush out the door to start your day, you attempt a 10-second wipe down of all your appliances and vow to do a complete scrub and polish over the weekend.

Kitchen cleaning is a never ending chore, and, with some appliances, like stainless steel gadgets, it can take even more time to get rid of the streaks created by cleaning products. Scotch-Brite, an expert in home cleaning products, has created two new cleaners that make this daily chore a little easier. One works on stainless steel and the other on glass or ceramic cooktops. The starter kit for each comes with a cleaning tool and disposable pads that have been pre-moistened with specially formated cleanser. Stick a pad onto the tool’s surface, clean, and then peel off and discard. What makes this product different is the cleaning tool. Its flat, rectangular pad allows for even application of the cleanser and doesn’t leave streaks, and the ergonomic design is easier on your wrists than using hand-applied cleansers. Although effective at removing oil and grime, the pads are scratch-free and therefore safe to use on any appliance surface. This is especially useful for removing cooked-on food from ceramic cooktops (who hasn’t been tempted to unleash a Brillo pad on those stubborn stains?!).   

This handy tool is so quick and easy to use, you’ll be reaching for it to do your 10-second morning wipe down…and you'll probably be surprised at how much 10 seconds can now accomplish. Scotch-Brite cleaning tools are available at most major supermarkets and retail chains.

Culturelle

Bacteria gets a bad rap, often headlining stories of tainted and deadly hamburgers, spinach, lettuce and other everyday foods. But there’s always two sides to a story. There actually exist a “friendly” bacteria, or probiotic, that fight for good in your body. We all have both good and bad bacteria, but sometimes harsh conditions such as excess alcohol, stress, antibiotics or other drugs, and illness can destroy the good bacteria, which may result in indigestion, diarrhea, infection, or other bowel-related maladies. Some people have been turning to yogurt, which contains a probiotic called Lactobacillus. The problem with supplemental probiotics though, is that many types don’t survive the harsh tunnel of our digestive tract, which includes being bathed in stomach acid and hustled along to quickly exit the body. You not only need a hardy strain, but also enough of the probiotic for the benefits to kick in. Lactobacillus in pill form is delicate and can die out if exposed to light or moisture.

Hence comes Culturelle, a multivitamin containing Lactobacillus GG, a well-studied strain of healthy bacteria. Research on the supplement has shown that it survives its journey through the stomach, and each pill is guaranteed to contain a specific, therapeutic amount of bacteria. Culturelle boasts a host of benefits that induce “enhancing the body's natural defenses” and “assisting with intestinal functioning.” It’s also reported to even be safe for infants and children. In fact, there’s a new version made just for kids, which purports to ease symptoms associated with occasional colic, diarrhea, and stomach upset.

Culturelle is fairly pricy ($19.99 for 30 capsules), with claims that aren’t endorsed by all health experts. However, unlike most supplements, the type of Lactobacillus in Culturelle is supported by several hundred clinical trials. There are also numerous anecdotal reports, including one from me. I first used Culturelle six years ago. A chronic sufferer of yeast infections since using oral contraceptives (which can destroy healthy bacteria) and tired of messy over-the-counter antifungal treatments, Culturelle successfully cleared up the infection within one week. I continued to use it whenever the infection reappeared. No longer a sufferer, I haven’t used Culturelle in years but wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to those with similar problems. However, everyone’s situation is unique so be sure to ask your doctor before trying these out. Visit www.culturelle.com for more info.

Nintendo Interactive Storybook DS

Nintendo recently introduced an Interactive Storybook series of fun software for the younger set, ages 3-6. It has stories and games just right for a tot. I reviewed Series 1, which involves the ever-popular “The Three Little Pigs” along with three other stories. Other fun features include a coloring book with ten different line drawings that can be embellished with a paint box or various stamp designs, a drawing pad that has similar features as the coloring book but encourages more of your child’s own creativity, a counting game, and a musical instrument.

After you choose a story, a dual screen shows the words as a voiceover reads them as well as animation to accompany the story. You also have the option of muting the voice so that you or your child can read the story aloud. Another nice feature is the ability to pause or backtrack the story if your child has questions or the voiceover reads too quickly. The graphics are simple, but colorful and engaging. Your child will also enjoy the coloring book and drawing pad, which offer fun tools and stamps in several colors and allow him to decorate an existing drawing or create something new. For music-lovers, try the harp-like instrument with which your child can record notes and then play back his melody. Finally, the counting game displays an animated character in the upper screen which your child then matches to several displayed characters in the lower screen.

The Interactive Storybook series is a nice mix of fun, creativity, and learning. It’s perfect for long car or airplane trips and won’t disturb others as it has adjustable volume or an earphone option. The Interactive Storybook software is used with the Nintendo DS Lite unit, which is sold separately. You can find both at most major retailers.

DaysAgo™ Digital Day Counter

When I first saw this product, I was puzzled. It wasn't the idea itself, in which you attach a digital timer to things that you tend to forget about…like the plastic tubs shoved in the furthest crevices of the fridge containing who-knows-what. It was the numerous rave reviews this product has received, including a Good Housekeeping award and an appearance on Oprah Winfrey. I examined the timer again and again, trying to see the specialness in it. Of course, we all have ancient leftovers and other stuff that has outlived its lifetime, and DaysAgo is one of those unbelievably simple inventions that you can't believe no one has thought of before. Attach a DaysAgo digital counter to a product, press the button, and it begins tracking days and hours on an LCD display. Commonly forgotten and questionable items include leftovers, baby food and formula, and eggs. The ads state that you can also use DaysAgo to track plant watering, oil changes, and even your disposable contact lenses. Such a simple idea, you begin to wonder—is it even necessary?

Will a timer help you to eat up that leftover casserole faster? After all, if you really wanted it, it wouldn't spend weeks in the fridge. The timer would more likely remind you to throw the stuff out…although you'd probably eventually do that anyway when the stench hits you or the exotic-looking fuzz on top grosses you out. You don't have to worry about a real danger of something like bacterial poisoning, such as salmonella (which you can't see or smell), in any food that's kept refrigerated. It's more about your tolerance of old food, which automatically warns you of spoilage by sight and stink. As we are creatures of habit, a product using DaysAgo would still likely end up forgotten (or purposely avoided) in the back of the fridge, except now with a colorful timer on it. Would putting a handwritten dated sticker on jars of baby food or formula be any less effective? Other things needing tracking such as contact lenses, oil changes, and water filters already have dates on them or offer stickers that you can fill in. You just need to actually look at them from time to time.

The DaysAgo timer does answer the question "How many days ago did you open it?" but poses a new question, “Will knowing that answer make any change in what you do with it?”

Medibottle

Taking medicine isn’t fun for anyone, much less a baby whose taste buds aren’t used to anything but the plain flavor of mom’s milk or formula. You can’t bribe a baby like you do a child with the promise of ice cream or other treat afterwards. So how do you get all the medicine down? Medibottle is a unique product that allows the medicine to be taken from a bottle filled with your baby’s usual liquid food, but keeps them separated. The medicine is measured into a syringe inserted within the bottle and administered in little squirts between baby’s sips of liquid. Because the medicine is quickly washed down, your baby has less chance of tasting it and therefore can finish the full dose.

May parents try to mix medicine directly into a baby’s bottle, but this dilutes it and has a risk of interacting with the fluid, which may lower its effectiveness. Also, if the baby doesn’t finish the bottle, some medicine remains. The Medibottle has a syringe tip located close to the nipple so there's less chance that the medicine will come into contact with the fluid, and the squirting action propels the medicine directly into the nipple. All of the Medibottle parts are dishwasher safe. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you can give your baby's medicine through Medibottle. For more information, visit http://www.medibottle.com/.

Mommymuscle® Fit ’n Fun Mat and Postnatal Workout DVD

As new moms, we know we need exercise: it helps shed that baby fat we no longer need, is a natural mood-booster, and supplies lasting energy even if you’re sleep-deprived. The problem is finding the time…and separating yourself from an infant who wants to be near you 24/7. Mommymuscle clearly understands those barriers and has created a workout that is practical, easy to learn, effective, and involves your infant or child. Mommymuscle offers basic but high quality products that can be purchased as a set or individual components: an exercise DVD, Fit ‘n Fun mat, balls, water bottles (used as weights), and exercise tubing. You’ll need at least the DVD and exercise mat; use your own hand weights or exercise tubing. The balls are slightly weighted but light and safe enough for an infant to handle.   

The DVD workout focuses on strength-training, which boosts energy and burns calories, but more practically builds muscles you’ll use to carry around your infant or run after your tireless 2-year-old. A certified personal trainer who’s a mom (her adorable baby Mazie plays nearby) demonstrates safe and effective moves for beginner and intermediate levels. Although the main workout isn’t hard to follow, there’s a tutorial that breaks down the moves even further. Included is a fun segment with 10 different exercises/activities to do with your infant or toddler. Most require the Fit ‘n Fun mat, which contains colorful animals, numbers, and shapes that are incorporated into the activities. The mat is lightweight and very soft but with a coated backing that grips rugs. You’ll need to place a yoga mat or other sticky material underneath if used on a slippery surface. The mat is also perfect for tummy time or general play.

The workout is challenging enough to continue long after you’ve reached your pre-baby weight. The mat is pricy at $59.99 but great quality and will get good mileage. Just some precautions: always know where your infant is on the mat to avoid tripping, and keep a safe distance if using heavier weights. Visit www.mommymuscle.com for more information.

Me Movies

Here’s a cool way for your child to play a starring role in a movie, without ever leaving your house! It’s extremely easy to do: just upload the child’s photo onto the Me Movies’ website (or e-mail it separately), and a 30-minute cartoon is personalized and mailed out to you. There are two stories to choose from, Bee and Me and Bee’s Costume Party, both of which include endless scenes of your child accompanying the main character, Bee, on his adventures. The animation is clear, colorful and fun, and your child’s photo is neatly superimposed onto a cartoon body that moves and changes throughout the story. 

The videos are recommended for kids up to age 7, and there’s no question they’ll get a kick out of seeing their face and name spoken throughout the movie. It makes a great keepsake, and you’ll get a kick out of the price⎯$29.95. To order, visit www.memovies.com.