Bibs really are a fantastic invention. Without them you would have to constantly change your baby’s top all day long. Although a bib really is a necessity for drooling babies, have you ever worried whether its really safe snapped or tied around your baby’s neck? I know I did and so did Molly of Bibs and Match. She worried about her babies sleeping with their bibs on. But like most other moms I know, she didn’t want to wake her sleeping babies to take their bibs off when they fell asleep. Could they be strangled by the bib tied around their neck or suffocated if it flipped up on their face? These worries led her to design adorable onsies and matching bibs that snap on to keep your baby safe.

The onsies and bibs are made of 100% cotton and are super soft to the touch and since safety is the number one concern, all the dyes used are non-toxic. The bibs snap right on the onsie at the neck, so it’s like the bib is part of the shirt, meaning no more worries about strangualtion. The sides of the bib snap to the shirt so it won’t flip up in baby’s face, either. And since they don’t tie or velcro around the neck, they’re more comfortable for baby; nothing rubbing baby’s neck or trapping all that drool right under baby’s chin which can be very irritating. Currently the onsies and bibs are available with cute little monsters on them, which would be great for boys and girls, alike. Best of all, these bibs don’t cover your baby’s cute outfit. The design on the bib completely lines up with the design on the shirt so it blends in with the design or if you choose a coordinating bib, it give the shirt an all new look.

Win it! Thanks to Bibs and Match, we’ve got a 3 piece set in size 6-9 months to give away (just like the set pictured above). There’s also a matching pacifier holder that attaches using the side snaps. To win, visit Bibs and Match and have a look around. Comeback here and leave a comment telling me your favorite feature of the bibs and onsies they sell by Midnight on August 19th. You can get an extra entry if you subscribe to our email newsletter (be sure to submit an extra comment to let me know you’re a new subscriber). Make sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you’re the lucky winner. The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted by email. The prize will only be shipped to US addresses. Good luck!

I’ve been MIA the past few days because I’ve been potty training my son. We’ve been trying to potty train on and off for a year now with no luck. Little Bug has shown zero interest and gets down right upset when the word potty is mentioned. But with preschool looming right around the corner and the mandatory requirement that he be potty trained (or at least making good progress at it), I stepped up my efforts to get him going on the potty. My last ditch effort was to take up the rug, put a thick comforter on the couch and just let him go diaperless! Of course, I had to keep a very watchful eye (so not much time for blogging). But, so far, it seems to have paid off. He started off with three accidents on the floor but they were easily cleaned. The fourth time he had to go, he sat on the potty all on his own, started going and then called for me to see! He and I both were so excited and proud! He seems to have figured it out! Only two accidents in the past two days!

But now that he is a big boy and no longer in his diapers, I am faced with all new worries and have to say it was so much easier when he was in diapers. I need to remember to remind him to go potty and when we go out I need to worry about things like always figuring out where the closest restroom is and how to protect him from all the germs on the toilet in public restrooms. Yuck! And it not just his bottom I am worried about but his hands, too, because like lots of other kids he needs to hold on to the seat to keep from falling in. That’s were Green and Clean Potty Covers come in. Unlike other potty covers, the Green and Clean potty covers really are oversized so they completely cover the toilet seat and then some to protect both bottoms and hands. They are also nice and thick, unlike those skimpy, thin covers you find in public restrooms. They have adhesive strips to hold them in place so they won’t slip off when you put them on. They don’t have a plastic layer on them like other brands, so you may need to wipe the seat if the person before you sprinkled when they tinkled. But since there’s not plastic you don’t have to feel guilty about using a disposal cover and harming the environment since they are made of 100% cotton and will be quickly degraded.

Stock up since you’ll be using lots and lots. They are just $6.95 for 10 at One Step Ahead.

SafetyTats are temporary tattoos for your child personalized with your cell phone number (see our review from June here). SafetyTats were invented by a mom trying to keep her children safe and what a brilliant idea! Now, SafetyTat is giving you the opportunity to win your own pack of 30 personalized SafetyTats.

To win: Visit the SafetyTat site.  Comeback and leave me a comment telling me which style you would choose if you are the winner.  Do this before midnight (EDST) on July 21st.  Make sure you leave your email so we can contact you. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email on July 22st. Good luck!

Although my full time job now is being a mommy, I have a Ph.D. in science and know all about those little “germies” that can make you and your family really sick. That’s why I get really freaked out when I go grocery shopping with my son and think about all the germs he could be exposed to when I put him in the shopping cart. They might look clean (or maybe they don’t) but they are really covered with all kinds of germs that cause colds and flus. When my son was an infant, I kept him in his car seat so he never touched the cart. He quickly outgrew his infant carrier and I just shuddered at the thought of putting him in the cart and him mouthing the disgusting push bar that everyone else had put their dirty hands on. So I started looking for a shopping cart cover to protect him. I came across cart covers that covered just the front and back, leaving the sides exposed. Others had to be tied on or were made of multiple pieces which seemed too hard to use when your arms are already full with your baby. I decided on the Clean Shopper shopping cart cover and have been absolutely thrilled with it.

The clean shopper is so easy to use. It is one piece and slips on easily with one hand so no need to put baby down. It covers the whole seat; front, back and sides, so your baby is completely protected from all those germs that could make him sick. Not only does the Clean Shopper protect babies and toddlers, but it makes them so much more comfortable. In fact, the first time I used it with my son, he cuddled up with his teddy and went right to sleep. Boy, that was a great shopping trip! The Clean Shopper is made from quilted, cotton fabric to help pad baby. It has two pockets on the sides to hold sippies or grocery lists and two loops to hook toys on to keep baby entertained. It also comes with a safety strap to keep your child secure in the seat. It is machine washable and holds up well washing after washing and when not in use can be stored in the carrying tote that comes with it. The Clean Shopper fits wooden restaurant high chairs, too. so no need to buy a separate cover.

Visit the Clean Shopper website to see all the great fabrics these covers come in and see the other useful products they offer, like the traveling ABCs shown in the photo above. Clip them on the loops for your baby to play with or to help your toddler learn to associate foods that start with each letter. Enjoy 15% off your order when you check out with the code TOTS.

We moms have so many things to worry about everyday to keep baby safe and since everything baby touches seems to go straight into her mouth, toys are at the top of the list. With the recent reports that many plastic toys are painted with paint containing lead, it’s nice to know there is one toy that baby can put in her mouth that you won’t have to worry about. Sophie the Giraffe is made in France where it’s been a favorite since the 1960’s. This cute toy is made from 100% natural rubber so it’s not only safe for baby but environmentally friendly, too. Sophie is decorated with food paint so you don’t have to worry when it ends up in baby’s mouth. In fact, when used as a teething toy, Sophie’s ears, horns, and nose will sooth baby’s hurting gums. This toy is easy for baby to grip and squeaks when squeezed for endless hours of worry free entertainment.

I wish I had found the Baby light and clip when my son was an infant. He would never hold still to have his nails clipped so we waited till he fell asleep to cut them. So of course, it took two of us to get the job done; my husband to hold the flashlight and me to clip. Even then, we were lucky to get two or three toenails clipped in one night. My son’s has the most sensitive feet and he would wake up when I started touching them. Needless to say, I dreaded cutting his toenails so I usually waited until they were so long and icky that I would have been so embarrassed if anybody saw them.

Then I found the Baby light and clip. Its so simple its genius! Its a baby sized nail clipper with a small light built in. The light is just bright enough that you can see baby’s nails but its not too bright to disturb baby’s sleep. The nail clippings are also caught inside of the clipper’s case so there are no sharp nails left behind in baby’s bed. Now there is no huge production to cut my son’s nails. It hasn’t solved my son’s ticklish foot issue but now I can slip in easily and quietly by myself and trim a couple of nails before he wakes up.

You can order your Baby light and clip from Mom4life. This online store is owned by a mom and who has a passion for helping other moms. She offers lots of wonderful products with terrific customer service. Plus when you order from Mom4life, your order always ships for free (and she includes a small gift with your order).

If your kid is like mine, he or she begs to have tattoos up and down his arm. Well, we’ve found a tattoo you’ll be happy to “ink” your child with. Safetytats are temporary tattoos that have fun designs your child will love printed with your cell phone number. They were developed by a mom to reconnect you with your child in case of an emergency. SafetyTats are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who are too young to have memorized mom and dad’s phone numbers.

They have lots of great designs to choose from for girls and boys and in case you have one of each, they have a mixed pack so you won’t need to buy two packs. They’ve even have tats to alert of health issues, like peanut allergies, autism, and diabetes.

We all know how quickly a child can dart away and in a crowd can easily get lost. But if you child is wearing Safetytat, at least you’ll have a little peace of mind knowing that who ever stops to help her will know how to contact you.

Babies R Us is currently allowing customers to exchange bottles containing BPA. Recent studies suggest that BPA may be harmful but its effects on humans are still unclear. If you would like to participate, make sure your bottles have all the pieces and parts. Babies R Us will give you store credit for the current selling price. The bottles can be new or used and did not have to be purchased at Babies R US (meaning you don’t need a receipt). I couldn’t find any information on the Babies R Us website so I don’t know how long they are going to do the exchange but I know that it is real because I exchanged my bottles today. Call your local store to see if they are participating and how long the exchange program will last.

Now that the summer season has started, it’s time to hit the pools and beaches! But don’t forget to protect yourself and your little ones from the sun’s harmful effects. We love Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen! I first learned about Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen when my son’s pediatrician recommended it. It is a broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF 30, meaning that it blocks 98% of the harmful effects of both UVA and UVB rays. Best of all, it’s non-toxic and safe for sensitive skin, making it a great choice for babies and children. Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen is packaged in “Smart Bottles” that turn colors when exposed to UV light so you’ll always know when you need to apply sunscreen (like those cloudy days when you might not think you need any sunscreen). Blue Lizard Australian sunscreen is recommended for ages 6 months and up. Lather up 20 minutes before going outside and don’t forget to reapply often!

Your driving down the road and you want to keep an eye on your little one in the back seat. It’s impossible to see your rear facing baby but there are so many good mirrors on the market that not only allow you to see your baby through your rear view mirror but also entertain him. But what about your forward facing baby?

I just went on my first long road trip alone with my son and realized that even though he is forward facing it was so hard to see him without turning around and taking my eyes off the road. There are not many mirrors that can be used to see your forward facing child and the ones that I found were either too small or really blurry and not very useful. But here’s a tip…tilt your rear view mirror to the night setting. You’ll easily be able to look up and clearly see your baby in the back seat and still see the cars behind you. Your child will love it too because he can make eye contact with you while you’re driving.