What Time Is It?
New parents on little sleep and memory loss go hand in hand. When was the last diaper change? What side did I nurse her last? You'll always know how long it's been with the Itzbeen Baby Care Timer [$24.99]. An ideal shower gift for first-time Moms and Dads, Itzbeen is an excellent resource for learning the natural rhythms of your newborn and remembering baby care tasks. A built-in soft-glow nightlight and display guides you in the late nights. The one-touch timers will help you record how long it's been since the last changing, feeding, sleep or awake, and a bonus button tracks medication or other activities. At the bottom you'll find a genius little switch that tells nursing moms the last side baby ate. Optional timers even let you set reminders with a soft alarm. All that in a compact, hand-held little gadget! And for the skeptical, Itzbeen is not about scheduling and letting parents off the hook with caring for their child. Its goal is to help new parents learn about their baby, communicate baby's actions between caregivers, and remember everyday tasks with a sleep-deprived mind! Stop your guessing and get your Itzbeen at Target or amazon.com.
Lighten the Load
Indiana mom and daughter team Kathi and Tina Pavlou invented the ultra-lightweight, uber-cool Ticklebug Baby Changing Kit [$39-$49]. It's an all-in-one diaper bag with total function and no bulk. A soft and stylish changing pad opens up to reveal compartments for diapers, wipes, keys, you name it. Just fold it back up, fasten with the strong Velcro closure, and off you go! Two straps at the top conveniently attach to your stroller, hold your little one's toys, or become one over-the-shoulder strap. Perfect for the minimalist or when you're always on the go. Venture beyond baby when you're out of the diaper-changing stage, and the Ticklebug Baby bag becomes a great travel accessory or activity carrier for older children, thanks to the inside compartments and non-babyish patterns. Find the Ticklebug Baby Changing Kit at Geppetto's Toys & Togs in Crown Point's Courthouse Square or online at ticklebugbaby.com.
Tame That Tube
Oh, the TV. What would some parents do without it? But, as much as we'd like to deny it, recent studies conclude that children who routinely watch television from the ages of 2½ to 5½ are likely to develop behavioral or social problems. Reduce that viewing time by just two or more hours a day between those ages and they are less at risk. The TV Time kit [$19.50], available at mytvtime.com, is a small box where kids can deposit the included special viewing tickets along with a 15-minute timer, monitoring how much television your child watches. A bonus to this concept is that it allows them to have responsibility as well. The kids determine when to use their viewing tickets by making smart choices, and when the tickets are all gone, no TV until more viewing tickets are earned at the parent's discretion.
Tami M. from Hebron says, "My 5- and 3-year-old watch anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours a day. My oldest is a "law abider" by personality, so she will do pretty much as we say. However, I expect the 3-year-old will be a bit more experimental with the rules when she gets a bit older. The 5-year-old loves the computer, so that is the technology that I have to put a timer on."
Gain some major control on TV, computer, and video game time with BOB, the Screentime Controller [$79.50]. Plug it into any electronic device with a screen and then set limits for up to six users. Once the time is up, the screen automatically shuts off. It's kid-safe and tamper resistant, and no worries, parents--you can watch anytime! If screen time is a struggle in your living room, this just might be worth it for your family. BOB is available online at usebob.com and bestbuy.com.
Jump Around
Let the kids burn energy this chilly spring at one of the new large indoor play facilities popping up everywhere lately. The play centers with giant inflatable bouncers and activities are not just for birthday parties anymore--many have "open" family jumps for just $5-$7 per child. Jump Central in St. John is known for its friendly staff and is available for private parties of the large or small variety as well as "open" jump times. The Jump and Fun Party Center in Merrillville features a Glow Bounce Party complete with black lights, strobes, and glow in the dark bouncers and walls! Dyer's Fun Flatables offers 12,000 square feet of energetic fun, including a huge Noah's Ark and pirate ships.
Highland mom Natalie Schwemlein raves about the area jump centers: "It's a good local activity. It's a nice place to take the kids for exercise in bad weather. They even have open jumps for special needs children and I really liked that for my son with autism."
Jump Central
9585 N Industrial Dr, St. John
219.365.2010
FunFlatables
101 Joliet St, Dyer
219.322.5333
Jump and Fun Party Center
630 W 81st Ave, Merrillville
219.736.1386
Win! We've got an Itzbeen Baby Care Timer, Ticklebug Baby Bag in the mod Illusions print, and a TV Time kit for some lucky Northwest Indiana parents! Visit the "Close to Home" blog at nwi.com/parent and enter by April 15.
Congratulations! To Sheri Lopez, Teresa Hoyt and Luz Escamilla, last issue's winners of the "Close to Home" blog giveaways.
Stephanie Precourt lives with her husband and three boys (ages 2, 5 and 7) in Valparaiso. For more great product reviews, and to read about her life as a proud stay-at-home mom--with another baby on the way!--check out her blog, "Close to Home," on nwi.com/parent.
