UrbanBaby Picks

For many families with toddlers, a fine dining experience, sans three-quarters of the meal ending up on the floor, is out of the question. But a finer dining experience? Definitely doable.

Tinytongs can help your DC clean up her act. The child-size tongs are easy to manipulate (via a pincer grasp) and perfect for “bridging the gap” between the time a kid eats with her fingers and the time she can actually master traditional utensils. Tinytongs have proper tensioning for a child (12 months and up), gripping ridges and a non-slip grip. Made from polypropylene and TPE over-molding, they have all the right “frees;” they’re lead-, BPA-, Phthalate- and PVC-free. Another plus - you can throw these babies into the dishwasher. No special cleaning rituals required. Lastly, tinytongs are available at recession-friendly prices: $7.99 for a single, $24.99 for a four-pack.

Bon appetit.

Available at tinytongs.com.

Cloying, cringe-inducing, a colossal waste of time. All of these describe a decent percentage of the children’s music making its way onto DVDs every year. The real gems have what’s called cross-generational appeal, meaning you can enjoy the songs together with your DCs. The best of this class are even iPod-worthy.

Renee and Jeremy produce the kind of music that falls into this last category. The L.A. duo’s second children’s album, C’Mon, will be released next month, and it’s the type of CD deserving of a pre-order. With their soothing vocals and an upbeat-but-relaxed, folk pop style, their music is reminiscent of Carly Simon and James Taylor of years past. You won’t mind hitting replay a few times. Packed with songs you and your brood won’t want to “skip,” standouts include It Makes You Feel Good, BFF, Rely, Share and the album’s title song. The lyrics are simple and child-friendly without being patronizing. They talk about dreaming, playing hide ‘n’ seek, being a friend, and feeling good about everyday, little accomplishments (something more of us should take to heart).

Bring it on.

C’mon is available on barnesandnoble.com. Download a free song from C’mon at reneeandjeremymusic.com.

It was the shot head ’round the world for anyone who’s done diaper duty in the past decade or so.

This past weekend, the New York Times reported that Walt Disney is offering refunds for Baby Einstein videos purchased after 2004, an action Times reporter Tamar Lewin writes, “appear[s] to be a tacit admission that they did not increase infant intellect.” Plenty of us bought these things, even before the 2004 cut-off date. (Baby Einstein was born in ‘97.) The Times referred to a 2003 study which indicated that a third of all American babies ages six months to two-years-old had at least one Baby Einstein video. Nevermind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for kids under two. In 2006, the group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, led by director Susan Linn, went to the Federal Trade Commission to “complain about the educational claims” made by Disney and Brainy Baby. So the companies stopped using the word “educational” in connection with their marketing. Not satisfied, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood passed along their research to a team of public health lawyers who in turn threatened a class-action lawsuit against Disney for “unfair and deceptive practices” if full refunds weren’t forthcoming.

Last month, Disney stepped up and began offering the refunds - $15.99 per video for up to four B.E. videos. In a statement on Baby Einstein’s website, the company’s general manager, Susan McLain, attacked Linn writing,”Unfortunately, with Susan Linn’s latest stunt, we cannot be silent any longer. Linn’s obvious dislike for Baby Einstein has now turned into a sensational, headline-grabbing publicity campaign that seeks to twist and spin a simple, customer satisfaction action into a false admission of guilt.”

Maybe we should stop being so obsessed with IQ and start appreciating EQ, the emotional intelligence side of the equation, which some researchers say is a far better predictor of future success.

Time. We can waste it, lose track of it and supposedly make and buy it. But even with our ability to function 24/7 and our mastery of multitasking, even as the owners of the latest and greatest electronic organizers, we can’t add more time to our days (except for next Sunday when we turn back the clocks). There’s no app for that … yet.

Enter Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There. The book by veteran journalist Mark Di Vincenzo recommends ideal times to eat, travel, shop, visit the doctor and a whole lot more. Below are just a fraction of of Di Vincenzo’s “bests”:

Time to have a baby shower - Four to six weeks before the due date.

Place in the sibling order to be born - First. Research shows that firstborns spend about 3,000 more hours with their parents between the ages of four and 13 and that helps explain why many are successful later in life.

Season to be potty-trained - Summer. Fewer clothes to peel off Junior as you run him to the bathroom.

Month to get pregnant - August. Di Vincenzo admits this one is debatable but reasons that if you get pregnant in August, you won’t be pregnant during the hot summer months and you’ll be over morning sickness once holiday party season rolls around.

Day to give birth - Any day but Saturday and Sunday. Hospitals aren’t fully staffed on the weekends.

Time of day to have a prescription filled at the pharmacy - Late morning.

Time of day to buy shoes - Late afternoon when your feet are swollen.

Time to throw out make-up - After six months.

Time to apply for a passport - Fall (Get moving!). The State Department isn’t receiving as many applications.

Time of year to buy condiments - Mid-May to early June. Companies that make these products offer deep discounts then; they’re hoping you stock up on their stuff and won’t have a need to opt for a competitor’s ketchup come the height of barbecue season.

To quote Styx and Charles Dickens, “These are the best of times.”

Available at amazon.com.

Uma Thurman’s character Eliza Welch doesn’t fit the typical New York mom stereotypes. She’s not a sanctimommy (although a blogger calls her one) with a holier-than-thou attitude, organically stocked pantry and belief that chocolate is an addictive drug. Nor is she a hire-a-village (nannies, tutors, life coaches) type. And that’s refreshing.

Eliza is simply another harried parent trying to make it through the day with all the pieces of her family intact. Motherhood takes us through “a day in the life of Eliza” as the SAHM blogs, gets ready for her daughter’s birthday party, navigates playground politics, wades through her cluttered apartments and tries to find a parking spot, a few sample sale bargains and her identity. Oh, yeah - she’s also attempting to land a new writing gig to help her return to some semblance of her pre-kids self. In a nutshell, although she sports a series of beyond-horrendous moo moos, Eliza is a woman with whom many of us can identify. Thurman has some touching moments with ER alum Anthony Edwards, who plays her onscreen DH. And Minnie Driver has comedic kick as Thurman’s BFF. But the standout scene belongs to newcomer Arjun Gupta as the easy-on-the-eye, Indian messenger who delivers so much more than just an envelope (not what you’re thinking!). Spoiler alert: It’s one hell of a dance scene.

Motherhood manages to hit the high and low notes of parenting, plus many in between, sans the saccharin and nary a housekeeper in sight.

Motherhood opens today in NY, L.A., Chicago, San Francisco and Boston.

Back in the 18th century, our relationship with the Brits wasn’t so hot - the whole American Revolution thing. But today we’ve got a lot to thank the UK for: Maclaren strollers, fax machines, penicillin, steel-ribbed umbrellas (a.k.a. bumbershoots), Burberry and Jude Law, to name a few. Now we’re getting some new hot wheels from across the pond.

Early Rider, already popular in Europe, is a light-weight, learner bike specifically geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. It’s got no pedals. Kids ride it Fred-Flintstone style, walking and jogging along, coasting when they feel like it. The point of the bike is to concentrate on learning to balance; kids can work on gross motor skills and gain self-confidence before throwing in pedaling. These British bikes weigh between seven and 11 pounds. All three versions of the Early Rider are made from Forest Stewardship Council sustainable birch, have an embossed flame and faux leather seat pad. Of course, with a bike this good-looking, Junior will need suitable headgear to match.

That’s when you turn to Nutcase, a Portland-based helmet company. They make a line for kids (toddlers to age 5) called Little Nutty. Each helmet is made from an ABS shell and with an EPS shock-absorbing liner. The helmets are one-size-fits-all and have a spin-dial fit system. One of the company’s co-founders was a creative director at Nike. No wonder these helmets have got such great visuals. The newest Little Nutties are Flower Power and Paint Fight (pictured), but you’ll also want to check out the 8 Ball, Dots and Urban Caution designs.

Ride, baby, ride.

Early Riders are available at earlyrider.com, and Little Nutty helmets at nutcasehelmets.com.

We tend to spend a lot of green to celebrate the holiday dedicated to orange and black. Estimates are that we’ll shell out $4.75 billion (National Retail Federation/BIGresearch) this Halloween, and that’s just for candy, costumes, decorations and greeting cards. Left out of this equation is what parents will pay for “witch lit” - all those books chronicling the adventures of witches, ghosts and goblins, et al. The problem: These stories seem to become irrelevant come November second, after you’ve sampled half of Junior’s candy stash. So why not go for options with more staying power? Below are books which stand a good chance of getting some eyeball action well into 2010.

Keep an open mind here. What Do You See under the Sea? is part Rorschach test ink blots, part sticker book and part Jacques Cousteau. Kids can choose from 200 stickers - of fins, claws, shells, eyeballs - to place on the colorful “play scene” pages to create their own underwater kingdom of sea life. Sans stickers, the scenes have an abstract feel, with splashes of bold, vibrant colors scattered about the pages (hence, the Rorschach comparison). Under the Sea is perfect for encouraging the open-ended, imagination-based, child-guided play that so many educators advocate. (Ages 3 and up)

The newest board book in the Urban Babies Wear Black series is Rocker Babies Wear Jeans. Not only do they tend to sport denim but rocker babies also shake their booties and have jam sessions. Adults will recognize author Michelle Sinclair Colman and illustrator Nathalie Dion’s homage to the Fab Four; accompanying the “Rocker babies go on the road” text is a picture of four toddlers crossing the street a la the Beatles’ 1969 cover for “Abbey Road.” (Ages 1-3)

With stunning photographs of snow crystals from fine art/nature photographer Mark Cassino, The Story of Snow could double as a coffee table book. Author Jon Nelson is a physicist and teacher who has been studying ice crystals and clouds for more than 15 years. In simple, clear (but not dumbed-down!) language, Nelson explains how snow crystals form and how they manage to take on different shapes. Includes instructions on how to catch snow crystals. (Ages 4-8)

Lights Out, Night’s Out guides readers on a night-time safari to learn about nocturnal animals. The book is part of the “Ani-Motion” series in which images within special panels move as you turn the pages. A hedgehog rolls himself up into a ball, a cricket hops and a hippo appears to rise from a swamp. No telling who will have more fun with this book - you or Junior.(Ages 4-8 is the suggested age range, but those slightly younger can just as easily enjoy it.)

Destined to earn the “classic” label down the road, But Who Will Bell the Cats? answers Aesop’s age-old question about the logistics involved in belling a feline foe. In Cynthia von Buhler’s tale, Mouse and BFF Brown Bat want out of their impoverished existence in the cold cellar and a piece of the action upstairs in the castle with the fancy library, bubble baths, grand ballroom and banquet hall. But first Mouse must bell the eight cats who live there with the princess. (Spoiler alert) Persistence pays off and this mouse with moxie is successful. Von Buhler created the standout visuals by designing 3-D sets, complete with floors with inlaid wood and mother-of-pearl. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper and then cut out and placed in the sets, which von Buhler then photographed. (Ages 4-8)

Check out a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how this book was created at butwhowillbellthecats.blogspot.com.

As the pumpkins surface, along with a few extremely premature Christmas decorations,it’s time for your annual winter-gear, search-and-rescue mission. Digging through piles of Pashminas past, you discover half a dozen gloves and mittens without partners. Why bother? Typically, after the 27-minute production of bundling up the bambino, you forget to take along your own cold-weather accessories in the rush to flee your overheated apartment.

Time to reinvent the wheel, or at least the mitten. One NYC mom did just that. Amy Sapirstein created the Mommy Mitten. It’s like a portable Snuggie for your hands. Just fasten it onto your stroller handlebar once and go. Lined with fleece, the “mitten” also features an insulating inner core plus an outer material that is water resistant. The whole thing is machine washable. The Mommy Mitten fits around any horizontal push bar, like the kind you see on the Bugaboo (Mutsy, Quinny, UPPAbaby, Phil & Teds, etc.) And standby. If you own a Maclaren or similar stroller with a set of two vertical handlebars, Sapirstein is working on a mitten contraption for you.

Now all she needs is a late-night informercial a la the Snuggie, and this fab invention could be equally famous.

Available online at mommymitten.com.

The jury’s still out on whether to include so-called “Mom skills” on your resume. But there’s no doubt that being a boss outside the home is a lot like dealing with children. Make that infants. Even in the corporate world, helming a division or company can feel akin to being stuck in Neverland with employees suffering from Peter Pan syndrome. They won’t grow up. The only thing missing is the kelly green tights.

Being a mom means you’ve got some skills that not too many b-schools teach. That’s the premise of the book Motherhood is the New MBA: Using your Parenting Skills to be a Better Boss. Author Shari Storm is an executive at a $400 million financial institution and says, “Human nature is human nature whether you’re two or 62. We all basically want the same things.” These include: a safe and predictable environment, a boss who’s fair and honest plus a clear set of expectations and consequences. She offers this advice for using your momhood experiences to lead the troops:

Knowing your role- Your job is not to be your child’s best friend nor is to be your employees’. If you’re too close, that can “make having difficult conversations even more difficult.” It’s pretty hard to discipline or fire your BFF or even give her guidance. Storm recalls having to put one of her co-workers/friends on probation. The co-worker’s response was: “My husband and I helped you move apartments last week.” There’s just no good comeback line for that one.

Talking the talk,
walking the walk- Set clear boundaries. Make sure you follow through with the things you said you were going to do. Lead by example. All basic tenets of parenting.

Taking swift and sure action - If your child runs out into the street, you wouldn’t hesitate to grab her and yank her back onto the curb. The same concept applies at the office. If an employee is a danger to herself, other employees or the work environment, or otherwise engaging in unacceptable behavior, it’s up to you to act quickly and confidently. That can mean firing the offender. By keeping your “house” in order, you’re more apt to earn the respect of your team.

Dealing with tattletales - Far too often, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Don’t let yourself be held captive by the office tattletale. Find out why the person is coming to chat with you. Do they simply want empathy? Encouragement? Action? If they are asking you to step in and take action, find out if she can cope with the situation herself.

Taking control of tantrums - Remove the tantrum thrower from the scene. (Suggest a chat in the hallway.) A change of scenery can be key. Speak to the employee firmly and quietly and emphasize that her behavior is not acceptable. A quick word on e-mail: “Never engage in an e-mail tantrum.” If someone sends you a confrontational e-mail, take a breather (a night) and then have a face-to-face with the employee. Although it’s tempting and convenient to respond via e-mail, keep in mind that tone is often lost in print no matter how friendly and reasonable you think your message might sound.

When all else fails, break out a box of Krispy Kremes. Bribery can be golden.

Motherhood is the New MBA is available at amazon.com.

Their break-ups surpass our national divorce rate. Commitment is a huge issue for them; one mate always seems to be disappearing on the other for no apparent reason, which makes for a singles scene like no other. This is the world of baby socks.

With baby’s tendency to kick off a sock just about every time you leave the house, and the Bermuda Triangle action known to take place in just about every washer and dryer ever built, you’re left with a lot of tiny socks flying solo. A spare or two per set would be nice. Blindmice socks has got you covered. Their socks are sold in packs of three or five, come in 21 different color and pattern combos (for infants and toddlers) and are meant to be mismatched. (So the odd one out still gets plenty of action.) The soft ankle band won’t impede circulation and is designed to prevent the sock from falling off. However, if reality intervenes and one mate does abandon the other, it’s nice to know you’ve got a back-up.

As Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld once said, “Change is the healthiest way to survive.”
(BusinessWeek.com, 5/30/05)

Available at blindmicesocks.com.