Jan 18, 2011

Leapfrog Learn & Groove Musical Table

A fantastic toy this and really represents great value over an extended period.

Intended for 6 months onwards they'll probably still be playing with it when they're five.

It has detachable legs so babies can sit on the floor and play and toddlers can stand and bash away at it.

It's bright and colourful, and packed with loads of sounds and songs and many different ways of activating them. 

There are two different modes of play and thankfully the volume can be turned down and the batteries seem to last forever.

Highly recommended.

Nov 27, 2010

Babies R Us I love my bear changing mat

Wipe clean Toys R Us own brand changing mat with 'I love my bear' motif. Cheap, bog standard padded plastic change mat with the standard limited lifespan.

This one only lasted 5 months before splitting, leaving sharp edges for babies to cut themselves on, so not great really.

Bumbo play tray

A clip on plastic play tray for the Bumbo babysitter. Expensive at £10, it doesn't attach easily and its method of attachment and removal may even damage the base of Bumbo eventually. Also, it's such a tight fit that it really seemed to upset my baby to the point of making me wonder if it was hurting him.

Not recommended at all.

Bumbo baby sitter

What a fantastic idea - a seat for babies who can't sit.

In appearance, Bumbo resembles a soft foam potty that flares out at the base for stability. You wedge your baby in and then they are supported by the structure and kept safely in place by their own weight.

Depending on the baby.

If you have a particularly active or angry baby they may be able to lean their way out or, in our case, boost their legs out with enough violence to topple Bumbo over and smack their head on the floor.

A great product, but only if you've got the right type of baby. Not cheap at £30 plus, so worth a try, but try before you buy.

Nov 25, 2010

Infacol anti-colic - not convinced, but worth a go

Infacol is an inexpensive over the counter anti-colic medicine that contains the same active ingredient as preparations used to treat acid reflux in adults.

It can be difficult to get the dropper into the child's mouth - if they like it they can get over-excited and splatter it everywhere, if they don't it can drip away before you find away to get it in their mouth. It's orange flavoured, and generally they do like it, but personal experience has shown it to be pretty ineffective. That said it can calm a screaming baby simply because they like it and associate it with food, thus screaming less and producing less wind. A placebo effect is better than none at all.

Nov 23, 2010

Bepanthen cream

Another thick barrier cream for the prevention of nappy rash. Significantly more expensive than Sudocrem and more pleasant to use. It costs enough that you'd probably only buy it if Sudocrem failed you, but does seem to do the job and actually has a healing effect.

Sudocrem antiseptic healing cream

Odd smelling, mid-priced barrier cream product for nappy changes.

Antiseptic it may be, but despite its popularity and extended use I see no evidence of healing properties, especially for nappy rash. That said, it is an effective barrier as attempts to remove from hands demonstrate.