I posted pics of my girls using our Dripstiks the other week, and not surprisingly y’all wanted details on them.

Where to start on our love of these?

• First, they REALLY DO contain the all-out melty mess of a small being holding a popsicle or ice cream cone (drips down face and splatters not included!)
• They’re wide handle makes them easy to use for kids of all ages; Alice has been using this since 17 months
• They’re dual use: One end fits a popsicle stick, the other an flat-bottom ice cream cone
• Colours are vivid and interesting
• Pieces come apart for thorough cleaning
• Dishwasher safe (top rack)
• Created by a mom of 5
• They’re a novelty, so kids think they’re cool

I’ve delayed writing this, because I’ve been trying to find a local retailer to a) do a giveaway for you, and b) find a local retailer you can purchase from. Unfortunately Once Upon a Child Ajax, where we got ours last summer, is no longer carrying them. The manufacturer does not ship to Canada in quantities less than 20 (boo!).

A quick google Canada search will bring up online retailers for you. I did come across Moms Finds, which has them ON SALE right now for just $4.

Happy frozen treat eating!

As a first-time mother to my now 4-month old daughter Addison, I was eager to try “Baby’s First Journal” for Carly and frankly, for myself and my husband – at the time Addison was 2 months old and we were struggling to figure out her “routine.”

The journal, produced by Glow Baby, claims to be “a comprehensive log book that enables parents to track the eating, sleeping and diapering schedule of their newborn.” During our three-week trial, we were happy to discover that the journal pretty much lived up to its disclaimer.

The journal has a small introduction, and then has a chart on each page outlining breastfeeding habits (start time, time on left, time on right, total length of feed), bottlefeeding habits (formula fed, breastmilk fed), diapering habits (pee, poo) and most importantly for me….sleep habits (start and end).

At first, I must admit that remembering to log in the book was a pain. Chances are, if I was upstairs, the journal was downstairs or vice versa. Then I would try to remember to back-log information, but that proved to be difficult thanks to mommy-brain and fatigue.

However, once we got in a groove of using the journal, it was very user friendly and answered the commonly asked question at my house “when did she last eat? Instead of the usual “I dunno…” answer, I could tell right away! This was especially handy for us because Addie is breastfed and formula-fed….so if I wanted to know how much of her bottle she took from my husband a few hours before, I could easily tell.

The journal is small enough to fit in any purse or diaper bag, although I must admit if we were “on the run” I didn’t really use it much. It also has a section at the bottom to write any notes, and also to check off whether vitamins or a bath was given.

Overall, Baby’s First Journal is a great tool, especially for first-time parents – as long as you remember to use it! For those on a budget, a simple Excel spreadsheet could do the job as well. And Addison’s sleep schedule? Well, by looking back at the journal pages I did manage to see a bit of a pattern in her napping during the day. Hooray! Then, seemingly the next day – she changed her pattern completely. So it’s back to square one…..isn’t mommyhood wonderful?!!

Leisa Davie is a first-time Mummy to her 3 month old daughter, Addison Rose. Currently on mat leave from her job working at a seniors’ activity centre, Leisa enjoys mummyhood, shopping, listening to music and spending time with family, friends, and her “fur baby,” Sadie. Bad habits include watching reality TV and drinking too much coffee. Married to her husband Ryan for almost 3 years, Leisa lives in Port Perry.

I have a Glow Baby journal for a lucky reader! Visit Glow Baby owner Lindsay’s site, poke around, and leave a comment about her journals and note pads. Winner announced Friday.

Sara from Sarita Baby actually calls these taggy giraffes, but I like gourmet better. Because this is one beautiful, handmade, funky fabric-encased stuffed toy.

Here is our Gigi helping me work today. I  boldly emailed Sara and asked her to send me one to review, because I’ve coveted them for ages at various shows she’s been at — and had to show them off to you. Gigi the giraffe is for my girls, of course. Of course.

Do you see the sweet fabric? The clever use of ribbon for the mane and tail, which double as sensory pieces, loops and handles? They are the perfect size to snuggle with, and adorable to adorn a crib or bed of any age child.

Sara is a work-at-home-mom in Oshawa who sews while her two kids sleep, in the sewing room her “wonderful husband was so generous to make” for her. Her funky baby accessories — including bibs, blankets, change pads and tooth fairy door hangers — are made with designer fabrics.

Check out Sara’s etsy site to find the three Durham Region stores you can purchase these giraffes at, for just around $20. Or, you can buy off the etsy site, or email Sara for a custom order at sb13sarita@yahoo.ca.

Want to win your own giraffe? (For your kid(s). Of course.) We’ve got a gorgeous green one that needs a warm spot in a Durham Region Baby reader’s house. To win, take a spin through Sara’s store, then leave a comment here with your favourite Sarita Baby creation. We’ll draw a winner on Thursday!

Are you ever in a restaurant in desperate need of a bib for your wee one? And you end up jamming a napkin down her shirt and hoping for the best? And, depending on the age of the kid, Junior ends up a) eating the bibnapkin, b) absolutely refusing to wear it, or c) both.

I can’t even count how many times this has happened to us.

It obviously happened to my friend and fellow mompreneur Alexandria of Clippopotamus, because she’s come up with a smart and funky solution: The Bib Clippo.

They’re made from washable poly-satin blend ribbons — in sweet designs — and are fully adjustable. Simply clip them onto a napkin, serviette, paper towel… anything, really, and you’ve got yourself an instant bib-on-the-go!

We used ours recently at a Chinese buffet in Orillia, and it worked fantastic. Lucy loved the fun print, opening and closing the clips, and that it was her special piece of equipment.

As a bonus for us breastfeeding mamas, the clips transform any blanket into a nursing cover.

Pretty sweet for $12, huh? Check out the Bib Clippo page.

We’re also loving another ingenious idea: Blanket clippos. These stretchy ribbons-with-clips attach to either side of a carseat or stroller and keep blankets (or toys) in place. Perfect for winter and always having your child’s favourite on hand. See more info and photos here.

You’re all starting to think Christmas, right? Local artist/art therapist/creative guru/friend, Susanne of Art and Soul Express, recently sent us some of her unique and custom creations, which I think are perfect for one-of-a-kind gift ideas.

Lucy is drowning us in art. Perfectly wonderful, creative, show-worthy art, but a lot of it. I know many of you have the same problem. While I contain much of it in a binder, on our fridge and in Lucy’s room, as wrapping paper and cards and gifts for proud family members, it’s still everywhere. And so hard to decide what to keep and what to throw away.

Behold Riff Raff Giraffe. Send Sus your child’s art (either via mail, or a high-quality digital image), and she transforms it into magnets! Perfect for gifts, perfect to preserve kids’ art without, well, preserving the art itself. We had a bunch of Lucy’s stuff done, and she’s just tickled to see it permanently displayed. RRG’s tagline — We make memories stick! — is exactly right.

You can also get funky magnetic letters to spell a name or saying, or the entire alphabet in a cool stainless steel tin that sticks right on the fridge.

Sus does a ton of other stuff: Beautiful prints — like this pregnancy one, right — cool t-shirts via Get Real Designs (you can make custom onesies at a baby shower!), Christmas ornaments, pregnancy belly casts, and workshops at her studio in Courtice (there are upcoming, all-day ones in December just for Moms). She also runs Wee Piggies and Paws, creating custom-framed shadow boxes and casts of little hands and feet.

Check out all her ventures on her website, and email or call (905-440-4351) for workshop and other details.

Want your product reviewed on Durham Region Baby? Email info@durhamregionkids.com for more details.