review - Stuff Parents Need

Energizer Battery Packaging Now Safer for Babies and Toddlers!

October 4, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 97 Comments

Thanks to Energizer for providing complimentary coin lithium products for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly mine.

Do you have any coin lithium batteries in your house? These are the little round disc batteries that are often needed for things like remote controls, children’s books with sound, or flameless candles. They are just the right size to be tempting to a young child to put in their mouths and potentially swallow. These batteries can cause serious chemical burns in as little as two hours. So you can add this to your list of things to totally freak out about. You’re welcome.

But I don’t want to leave you with the bad news and then just walk away. Energizer has teamed up with the National Safety Council to share some tips on keeping kids safe from injuries like those associated with the ingestion of coin lithium batteries.

As parents, we have to do our part to keep batteries out of the reach of little hands. Energizer, for its part, has been the first battery company to voluntarily develop packaging for its 20 millimeter coin lithium batteries that meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s strict guidelines* for child-resistant packaging.

The Packaging Difference

We put Energizer’s packaging to the test recently by comparing just how easy (or difficult) it might be to open without a pair of scissors. We also had a different brand on hand to see if another brand had similar packaging or not. Here are our results!

Other packaging: paper backing. I was into it in about 15 seconds. I could see a baby or toddler drooling on this for just a little bit before the battery would just fall into their little mouths. Yikes!

Energizer package: plastic through and through. It is bendable, but that stuff just won’t break. I messed with it for a few minutes before snapping this shot.

And once I did cut into the package with scissors, I noticed that the batteries still weren’t “easy” to get to. Definitely doable without having to yell expletives, but these aren’t just going to accidentally fall out, I promise.

While we tested our product with adults, I do not believe that my 4-year-old would be able to open this package without a pair of scissors (and the rule in our house is that scissors are only used with adult supervision).

Win it!: In celebration of Engergizer’s safe packaging for coin lithium batteries, one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the following:

Two (2) packages of Energizer Coin Lithium batteries
One (1) Energizer LED Nightlight (winner’s choice between Sleeping Beauty or Cars)
One (1) Energizer Weatheready 2-in-1 LED Light

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Background on CPSC Child-Resistant Packaging

The CPSC imposes strict guidelines to determine if a packaging qualifies as effectively child-resistant. The packaging is tested with groups of children ages 42-51 months and also with senior adults ages 50-70. For a package to be child-resistant, a total of 80% of the children tested must not open the package in a full 10 minutes of testing. To make sure that adults are able to use a child-resistant package properly, 90% of adults tested have up to five minutes, and then another minute in a second test, to open and close the package (if applicable) so that it is child-resistant again.

Luvs Diapers We Use Day Or Night

October 3, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Luvs. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own, as always.

A few weeks ago we went on a little vacation. While we primarily cloth diaper, I’ve mentioned before that my family chooses to use disposables when we are away from home for more than 6 hours or so. I opted to take this particular brand of diapers for daytime use.

These are Luvs Super Absorbent Leakguards, and this particular version is only available at Walmart. It can absorb 15% more than its counterparts, making it an extremely effective diaper at a very affordable price (.16/diaper for size 3!). As the campaign states, the clue is in the blue, so just look for that blue “super absorbent leakguards” seal on the package when you go to purchase.

These diapers worked absolutely great during the day. We didn’t encounter a single problem with them, no matter the contents of the diaper (and I think you know what I’m talking about here!). No diaper worries means more time to play and have fun, and that we did!

Now most any parent can tell you that there is a distinct difference between the diapers that work well during the day, and those that are needed for night time. Typically kids get their diapers changed every 2 hours or so during the day, but at night they could go as long as 12 hours in just one diaper. So that diaper has to be ready to work REALLY hard!

I hadn’t planned on even trying these Luvs diapers overnight, as we have found a brand of overnight disposables that we like just fine. But when we reached for those diapers during our out-of-town trip, we realized that neither one of us had actually packed them. Oops! We had no choice but to give the Luvs diapers a try.

And guess what? They worked!!! We used them 3 nights in a row without a single leak! I have to say, I was really impressed with that. So these diapers get my seal of approval for a great, affordable diaper for day or night. And Layah loves them, too. She thinks the monkey on the diapers is cute and loves to show it off. I have to keep my eye on that one!

Have you tried these Luvs diapers, yet?

“Did You Make That?”: The Toddler Costume Reveal!

October 1, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Special thanks to Birthdayinabox.com for providing the toddler costume for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

I recently revealed our 16 month old’s Halloween costume on Facebook. She is going to be a little owl! Her toddler costume received unanimous approval, as well as a few questions about how I made it.

How I made it??? I can’t sew on a button properly, let alone sew a costume! And that brings me to what I wanted to say to all the moms and dads out there who are feeling the pressure to create a costume, and that pressure is stressful, rather than exciting and fun:

Buy the kid a costume.

You do NOT have to spend hours upon hours sweating it out by your sewing machine. And if you are like me and have no sewing skills, you don’t have to spend even a single minute feeling guilty that you won’t be whipping up something one-of-a-kind. Or even worse, convincing yourself that you can learn how to sew in your spare time and THEN put together that fabulous costume idea you saw in Parents magazine.

It’s already October 1, y’all. Let that dream die, already.

There’s not a thing in the world wrong with making a costume, especially if that brings you joy and happiness. But don’t let it suck the life out of you, and definitely not when there are so many cute options out there. Just feast your eyes on this feathered friend!

This owl costume came straight from Birthdayinabox.com. This site is a fantastic resource, not only for cute costumes, but also for party ideas and all the party supplies you could ever need!

If you are still scratching your head over what your child should be for Halloween, and if you are still trying to convince yourself that you have the time, skills and interest in sewing a costume, just take a look around at Birthdayinabox.com and see if you like the idea of clicking a few buttons instead! Before you know it, you could be spending your time practicing your owl hoots like Layah and I are doing!

Wow!: Our Visit to theTitanic Museum Attraction

September 30, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

Special thank you to the Titanic Museum Attraction for hosting my family on our trip experience. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Just over a week ago my family paid a visit to Pigeon Forge, TN for the first time ever, and our very first stop on our trip was to check out the Titanic Museum Attraction. Are you familiar with it?

Pigeon Forge is a city that is pretty overloaded with attractions. Business after business on the main highway is trying everything they can to get your attention. But the Titanic Museum Attraction stands out from the crowd. That’s because it is a giant replica of the famous ship!

When we arrived we were greeted by ladies dressed as female crew members of the Titanic, who offered us each passenger cards. I assumed that the assignments were completely random, but as we waited in line and read our cards, we realized that they had been carefully selected based on our estimated age and gender. I had the card of a mother on board with two children, for example. And both of my girls had cards telling the stories of passengers who were very young. I thought that was particularly compelling, as it connected you more to a story of someone who was on the ship and who you, as a guest, could relate to in some way.

As we were about to enter the museum, one of our guides said that the museum hoped to pay respect to those who lost their lives on that fateful night, and the best way they could think to do that was to simply tell their stories.

While no photographs are allowed inside the museum, I can tell you this: it is FULL of amazing artifacts (over 4 million dollars worth!) and fascinating stories. For just an additional $2.50, you can purchase an audio tour, which I very highly recommend, to add additional interesting details to each room you visit. And there are guides throughout the 22,000 square foot exhibit who will also share very insightful stories with you. They are highly knowledgeable about the Titanic and its passengers, and they welcome your questions. I could tell that it was a real pleasure for them to be able to share and educate others!

There is also an audio tour for children, which I listened to here and there while going through the exhibits. I thought it was absolutely terrific, and I was really impressed that something like that existed for the younger ones. Museums can seem a little dull to kids, at times, but I noticed several things that this museum has done to make it fun and interesting for children. Just this year, in fact, they have unveiled a special gallery dedicated to the children who were on board. Additionally, there are some interactive experiences that will pique the interest of children, such as being able to sit in a row-boat much like the ones that were on the ship that night, or a room where you can feel the water temperature and air temperature as it was on the night of the crash (this was also my favorite room…highly experiential and really made you feel like you were there, in that place and at that moment…chills!). You even have the opportunity to touch a GIANT block of ice and to kids can try to steer the ship!

As part of the roughly 2 hour self-guided walk-through experience, you also get to walk down a full-scale replica of the grand staircase that was part of the Titanic. Even my 4-year-old picked up on just how grand it really was, and enjoyed being able to admire it AND walk on it!

While I think this attraction is a little tough for kids like Layah who are still young enough to be in strollers, I do think it is an excellent choice for families with kids who are just a little bit older (I’d say 5 and up). It combines entertainment with education in very clever ways. I was even impressed to learn that the museum is offering a very special package in November for homeschooling families. Talk about an awesome field trip!!!

I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to this museum. I have heard people who have visited multiple times comment that they learn and discover new things with every visit. The museum also aims to present something new almost every year. In 2014, they are going to have an exhibit focused on “Unsinkable Molly” Brown, an American passenger of the ship, and I think that is going to be extremely interesting, as there will be some rarely before seen pieces on display from Molly’s personal collections.

Have you ever visited the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge (and there’s one in Branson, too!). If not, I very highly recommend it!

Magic Milk Straws: Halloween Candy Alternative

September 29, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 177 Comments

We’ve all been there: the candy aisle at the nearest convenience store, either the day before or the day of Halloween. We’ve paid ridiculous prices for candy, maybe not even the “good” candy since we waited so long to buy any.

This year, I’ve already got my “candy” tucked away at the top of my pantry, ready to go. And my “candy” isn’t actually candy at all. But it sure is sweet! Here’s what I’m handing out this year:

Magic Milk Straws

Have you seen these in the stores, yet? My mother actually introduced them to us, and since that time, I got connected with the folks over at Magic Straws (which I just call milk straws) to learn more about their products. They sent me several flavors to test out (tough job, but someone’s got to do it!), and that’s when it hit me that these would be a VERY cool alternative to Halloween candy this year.

Magic Straws was already thinking about that very same idea, and that’s why they are offering a 48 count Halloween Value Tube this year! The straws in the value tube will be individually wrapped, which makes them perfect!

Ok, Tiffany, but what the heck are Magic Straws? Well, my friend, they are straws that when used, will turn milk (any kind!) into a flavor party! The milk becomes flavored with the cool little beads inside the straw while you sip it. When the beads run out, the flavor is gone. I’ve found the straws to last through a decent sized glass of milk. Darah often still has some beads left over in her straw by the time her milk is gone, which usually prompts the request for, “more milk, please!”

Magic Straws contain NONE of the following:

high fructose corn syrup
artificial colors
lactose
fat
cholesterol
gluten
preservatives
allergens
mess(!)

They come in an awesome variety of flavors, too. They have a Dippin’ Dots line that has birthday cake and s’mores flavors (we handed some of those out at Darah’s birthday party as favors!). Their Got Milk line includes chocolate, strawberry, vanilla milkshake and cookies & cream. And they have a limited edition flavor line that will really blow you away! It includes strawberry/banana, orange cream, wild berry, banana cream, cinnamon roll, neapolitan, cotton candy and chocolate candy cane!

If you aren’t ready to go big, you certainly can purchase Magic Straws in packages of 5, 6 or 24. And they are sold all over the place! Find your nearest retailer online with just a few simple clicks.

What will you be handing out at your front door this Halloween?

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Halloween 48 pack of Magic Straws, just in time for trick-or-treating!

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Cora the Smart Cub Review and Giveaway!

September 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 120 Comments

Thanks to VTech for sending us Cora the Smart Cub for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

We have been playing with Cora the Smart Cub, by VTech for about 3 weeks now. And she has already traveled with my family on a road trip, which is a high honor (only the most favorite toys travel!). Cora is intended for children ages 6-36 months, but I can tell you that my 4-year-old also likes to play with it, almost as much as her 16 month old sister!

Cora is an interactive plush toy that can be hooked up to the VTech Learning Lodge online by an adult (a USB cord is included with the toy) so that it can get access to over 20 different stories and 130 different melodies(!). You can also customize the bear to be able to say your child’s name, know your child’s birthday, and know what time of day it is so that the bear knows whether to say good morning or good afternoon.

I have to say, this is a pretty darn cool toy. I’m not typically a big fan of toys that are electronic, but I don’t think this toy is just a “noise maker.” Rather, it is introducing Layah to a wide variety of songs, helping her understand daily routine, working on identifying parts of the body, and encouraging engaged play time.

Our Favorite Car Toy

Cora is a source of much entertainment in the car, which is a sweet relief to me, as Layah is going through a phase now where she hates being in the car seat so much that she tries to get herself out of the straps. She needs something to take her mind off of it, and Cora is the perfect solution.

The Price is Right!

Perhaps what impresses me the most about this toy, though, is the price point. When you think about just how many different things the bear can say and do, and how long it can keep your child engaged, wouldn’t you expect this toy to be in the $50-$75 price range? I would. But no…it is just $19.99! How many cheap, plastic toys have you purchased at that price point that didn’t do anything cool and that broke in a month? I think the value is absolutely outstanding, and I would highly recommend Cora (or Cody, a similar dog but in blue) for a toddler this holiday season.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win your own Cora the Smart Cub!

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Every Suitcase Has a Story: My Trip to Unclaimed Baggage Center

September 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 36 Comments

Special thanks to Unclaimed Baggage for providing gift cards to facilitate my adventures searching through the treasures of lost luggage! Don’t miss the SWEET Unclaimed Baggage Center coupon I have for my readers!

When you travel by air, do you ever wonder about where your fellow passengers are going? If you are chatty, like me, you may hear some of the story of your seatmate, but you will likely not hear any others. Are they coming or going? Business or pleasure? Was their trip planned for months on end or did they book their flights last night?

Unclaimed Baggage

Every passenger has a story, and those stories can often be gleaned by simply seeing what they packed in their suitcases. The vast majority of travelers reach their destinations with their suitcases, but every once in a while, a bag does get mishandled, and eventually, lost from its owner. And it is those bags that head to Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama to be sorted through, so that is contents can find new owners, either through being sold or being donated.

Unclaimed Baggage Center has the look and feel of a large retail store, with everything cleaned, categorized and tagged for sale. In addition to having more clothes than you can imagine, they also have a whole slew of other fun things!

Tablets

Jewelry

(All jewelry has been appraised and is sold at roughly half its appraised value. There are some GREAT deals in this case!)

Lost Treasures

Unclaimed Baggage even discovers some real treasures from time to time. Below you will see some antique religious artifacts, various currencies, an animal from a hunting expedition, some unique bicycles, a gorgeous model ship, and a ruby belt buckle worth over $10,000!

During my visit, I was treated to many cool stories, and I soon realized how a trip to Unclaimed Baggage is so much more than a trip to a big store with some good bargains. The store itself tells a story, and so do the people who work there!

As part of my visit, I was treated with some gift cards and sent on my merry way. Since I was without the kids, I was able to shop in peace! But that doesn’t mean I took my time. I had just 2 hours to shop. That might sound like plenty of time until you realize just how big the store is. I was shopping like a mad woman, and honestly, the thrill of it was so much fun. Here’s my buggy about 1 hour into my trip. This is when I realized that I might have a problem…

I made it to the check out line with mere minutes to spare, and then headed straight over to the part of the store where they were hosting something very fun that they do every day: the unpacking of the bag! This is something the center has been doing for a few months now, after hearing feedback from customers who wanted to know what really happens when a piece of luggage reaches their facility. A member of the audience was selected to unpack a bag that had only been viewed by one person at the facility (just to make sure that nothing dangerous or overly embarrassing was inside). We got to help make decisions about what would be cleaned, what would be sold immediately, what would be donated, and what would be trashed. It was so exciting to see this come out of the bag. Treasure hunt, indeed!

Finding the laptop was fun, but what was even more fun was piecing together the story of this bag. Based on the contents, we determined that this was a young adult female who made a trip to Russia. The luggage was lost on the return trip, as she seemed to have her souvenirs (such as nesting dolls) in the bag with her. This was a very cool experience, and one I highly recommend you make the time to see while at the store!

Refueling

I was so happy to see that Unclaimed Baggage had its own cafe on site, AND that it served Starbucks coffee. I had a delicious sandwich for lunch, a big, fat rice krispie treat, and of course, some iced coffee. This got me refueled and ready for more shopping!

My Personal Treasures

Just before leaving the store, I took one more glance at the jewelry section. And something very special caught my eye. I found a little sterling silver bunny that would look so perfect on short sterling silver chain to give to Darah for Christmas (I found the chain in the case, too!). Darah has had the nickname “bunny” since the day she was born. It wasn’t something I had planned on calling her; it just happened the moment I laid eyes on her! As I was checking out, the person helping me said, “Oh my. This is a John Hardy piece. This is VERY special!” I had no idea who John Hardy was, but evidently he is a famous jewelry designer, and his pieces are highly sought after. All I know is that he made a sweet little bunny charm, and I simply had to have it. This was my favorite find of the day!

My other favorite find was a brand new teal winter coat. It still had its tags! It looked fabulous, if I do say so, myself. The red pea coat I wear most often in winter has been with me since 2000, no joke, so I was definitely due for something new!

Additionally, I found several pieces of clothing for other members of my family, as well as a few Christmas gifts. It was an awesome experience, and since it is only an hour from where I live, you’d better believe that I’ll be back. The merchandise is different every day, so there are always new treasures to find!

Have you ever visited Unclaimed Baggage Center? What did you find? Is this the type of place you’d love to get to visit???

Primary Science Plant & Grow Set Review (and Giveaway!)

September 25, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 91 Comments

Learning Resources, one of our very favorite online shops for educational toys, recently sent us the Primary Science Plant & Grow Set to review, and I’ve really been looking forward to telling you all about it!

It comes with lots of great (and sturdy!) tools to use for various experiments, all related to plants and watching things grow. This is a topic of much interest for my 4-year-old, which has made this set a real hit with her.

I especially love the cards that contain several different experiment ideas. Last week, on the way home from preschool, we stopped by our local grocery store to buy some carrots so we could do a really fun and easy experiment together.

We filled up our observation jar about halfway with water, then added 10 drops of food coloring. We cut all but an inch off the carrot top and cut the bottom tip of the carrot, as well. The we put the carrot into the water and waited. The waiting part was tough for Darah, since we needed to wait 2 whole days!

This experiment teaches about how root vegetables get their nutrients, and how water travels throughout the vegetable. After two days we could see blue food coloring at the top of the carrot, as well as on the inside. It was very cool!

If you know of a child who is interested in plants, or who just loves a good experiment, the Primary Science Plant & Grow Set, available through Learning Resources, is a terrific find! After all, the best learning happens when kids are having a lot of fun!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Primary Science Plant & Grow Set!

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Starting the Tradition of Afternoon Tea with #AmericasTea

September 25, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This #AmericasTea shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

While some people are all about tea time, I make no secret of the fact that I LOVE coffee, and specifically, iced coffee. It is my near-constant companion throughout my day, starting well before the sun rises (between 3 and 4 am when I start my work!). I usually have my second coffee between 9-11am, just depending on how tired I am feeling, and then I have a third coffee around 2pm.

Time to Switch to Herbal Tea?

It’s the third coffee that causes the trouble, though. You see, by that time of day, I’m starting to feel groggy and feel the effects of a headache (caffeine withdrawal, I’m guessing). I feel sort of gross without that last cup. But I also feel sort of gross after I drink it. I feel sort of like an exhausted person who got a cold splash of water and was giving marching orders. That’s not at all how I feel with my first two cups of the day. But what to do?

I was recently offered the opportunity to give Bigelow Tea products a try, and to see if I could make the switch from coffee to tea. Now I’m telling you true, those first two cups of coffee aren’t going anywhere, thankyouverymuch! I feel as happy as a lark with them! But I was definitely willing to try something new for my third cup of the day, and I thought transitioning to something with less caffeine but that could be equally as refreshing would be smart. After all, there’s a reason that so many people partake in the afternoon ritual of tea time. They must be on to something, right?

But for me, tea time was going to have to happen on MY terms, and that meant that it was going to be iced. Sounds strange, I know, but the Bigelow website has some great recipes and tutorials for making a delicious glass of iced tea using their products. I don’t like hot coffee, so I don’t think I’d like hot tea, either. But if I could find the right iced recipe, we just might be in business! I really appreciate how many creative options Bigelow Tea presents to consumers. It can help a tea novice like me find the right drink choice, and it can even help an herbal tea aficionado make new discoveries! Definitely check out the Bigelow Tea blog for lots of great ideas and inspirations.

My Bigelow Tea Experience

I purchased several different flavors of Bigelow Tea so that I could easily find the right blend for me (you can check out my entire shopping trip at Walmart here). I started off with Vanilla Chai based on the smell alone. Oh it smelled DIVINE!!! I heated up my kettle and poured a small amount of water into a glass, and then let the tea bag steep for 3 minutes. Then I added 1/4 cup milk and a spoonful of sugar (yes, I like it sweet!), and then I poured the contents over a glass full of ice.

Y’all, it was GOOD! I was honestly surprised at just how much I loved it. And after I realized that it was a winner, I transitioned the contents into my see through iced beverage tumbler (that is a BIG honor, and the tea had to earn the right to it!).

While I still rock my coffee in the morning hours, I actually find myself looking forward to my afternoon tea. I’ve been truly shocked by just how many fun flavor combinations I can dream up, which gives me something different and full of flavor to power through my afternoon. One of my favorite concoctions is what I call the Bigelow Chocolate “Mintea” Beverage. I steeped a bag of Mint Medley tea in about 2 ounces of boiling water for 3 minutes. Then I added 1 tsp chocolate sauce (oh yes I did!), followed by a splash of milk, and a cup full of ice. Give it a try; it tastes like a yummy treat!

Since I have been having tea for a few weeks now, I actually noticed a difference in my overall disposition in the afternoons. We actually just got back from a vacation where I didn’t have easy access to caffeinated beverages, and the afternoons didn’t give me one bit of trouble. I definitely attribute that change to the fact that my body is now used to low-caffeine Bigelow Tea.

So, what’s in your cup or glass around tea time each afternoon? Is it time for you to switch to something that tastes incredible and won’t leave you feeling cranky?