I have talked about it before and I know it seems unappreciative but it is not. I have a list of things that are practical but not very cute to give your friends for a baby shower gift. If you package it right, it could be the most adorable gift at the shower but the inside is truly what counts. So Kim, if you are reading this, look away until after your shower because part of this is on your list of gifts.

• Tylenol,
• Gas drops,
• Benadryl or teething gel,
• diapers,
• wipes,
• bath supplies like soap and lotion,
• nail clippers,
• nasal aspirators,
• laundry baskets,
• organizers in the nursery theme,
• nasal saline spray,
• infant cold medicine,
• Dreft laundry detergent,
• spot stain remover,
• Oxi-Clean
• coat hangers

These are just a few of the non-cute things that mommies usually don’t get at a shower but they will realize quickly that they need. They are usually a staple for my baby shower gifts since they were what I ended up running to the store for when I needed it and realized I didn’t have it. And trust me, when you need them, you need them immediately!

Happy shopping.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Did you know that Baby Center also offers free newsletters?  I get a newsletter sent to my inbox each week that is dealing with my child’s current age.  Click here for a list of articles or to register for their emails.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1.  Heelys – These shoes have removable wheels and turn children’s shoes into inline skates.  Potential for blunt impact, spinal and neck injuries.

2.  Z launcher:  turbo water balloon launcher - Can turbo launch water balloons 100 feet with direct hit accuracy.  Potential for facial and choking injuries.

3.  Pram decoration-blossoms – This toy has a cord that is about 23 inches long and it has attached beads and other small cloth and wooden play items.  Its targeted audience is babies!  What are they thinking?!??!

4.  Pyramid stacker – This stacking toy is manufactured by The Pottery Barn Kids.  It contains multi-colored tiers, includes wooden parts, intended to be stacked upon a solid-wood dowel. A child who falls on the wooden dowel could be seriously injured.  The toy is marketed for children as young as 12 months.

5.  Bow & arrow set – Includes rubber-tipped “arrows” made of solid wood. The tips, however, are removable, and the rigid, wooden shafts can be propelled with sufficient velocity to potentially cause severe injuries.

6.  Zip-Ity Do Dolly – This doll is sold at Toys R Us. One of the dolls has a red plastic button on the doll’s clothing, attached with thread, which could be ingested by oral-age children. Once detached, the button fails even the toy industry’s inadequate small parts “choke tube” standard. Another doll has a soft, plush ball attached to the zipper, which also presents a potential choking hazard.

7.  Lil Snoopy – This pull toy has a 27 inch pull cord which could cause strangulation. It is marketed to children as young as 12 months old.  My son got one for his first birthday and I immediately took it back to the store.

8.  Superman Lamp – This lamp is sold in the toy department, rather than with the other lamps or electronics.  Families are further instructed to “[un]plug the product when leaving the house, when retiring for the night, or if left unattended.”

9.  Sky Blaster – This toy is sold as an “All In One Rocket & Launcher!” Potential for eye injuries.

10.  Fear Factor Candy Challenge - These candy pouches contain ”spine-chilling spiders”, “mystery meat”, and a “buzzard buffet”.  The candy is sold in the toy aisle, is based upon the television series which sometimes features contestants competing to eat as much as possible in the shortest time. Toy aisles should not be used to encourage food-eating competitions, which invite potential choking and ingestion injuries, particularly for young children.

There are plenty of other unsafe toys out there, which is one of the reasons that there are recalls.  When shopping for toys, watch for items that have loose small parts, pieces that are easily detached, long cords, and places where a child could get stuck.  Are there any particular unsafe toys that you have seen?  Comment about them below.

For more information on toy safety, visit the W.A.T.C.H. website.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Well, being pregnant with my first child, my DH and I went to Target and got the scanner because we were going to register for things that we later found out we didn’t need.  LOL  We knew we needed a diaper pail of some sort and a Diaper Genie was the only one that Target had available, so we registered for it. 

I received a Diaper Genie from my MIL and soon realized the Diaper Genie was not all I thought it would be.  For some reason, the cutting blade on mine didn’t seem to work very well and I would have to get the scissors out every time I had to change the bags, which was very often, I thought.  Then I became annoyed by how often I had to change the bags, the poor cutting system, the length of the snake like things, and soon after I became aware of the costs of the bags!!!  I was just not impressed. 

One day while my DH and I were at Babies R Us we discovered the Diaper Champ. We were impressed that it took regular kitchen trash bags, had an easy to use flip handle, and had a seal to keep out the odors.  According to the description, it even holds cloth diapers. 

We are now using our 3 year old Diaper Champ with our second child.  We have definitely gotten plenty of use from it.  A year or so ago the seal broke, but it still keeps the smell contained.  We only change the bag once a week and we don’t have to fight with refilling it or cutting anything.  It a time and money saver, plus you don’t feel bad about yourself later for having bad thoughts while changing the bag.  The diaper champ wins my vote!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy