Mommy to 1-year-olds - what can't you live without?

[noelwr]

I'm off to the States soon for my shopping trip and was wondering what mommies have found are very useful for their toddlers. Could be for care or for play. Thanks in advance!

 

[Puppmom]

Noel, showing Skye the States is going to be so much fun! Here are a few things that I find really useful when on the go. I'll be back with more later!

- pouches of fruits and veggies. they're quick and easy and N won't eat veggies in any other form. they have them in most grocery stores here.
example - http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4406443&prodFindSrc=search
- snacks in general. N loves peanut butter crackers and plain saltines or ritz
- water. i find that N gets grumpy when he's thirsty.
- infant pain relief of some sort and orajel or some teething pain relief.
- board books. they can entertain him for a while.
- this may sound kind of weird but I usually bring his white noise machine if we're going to be at someone else's house at nap or bedtime. it definitely helps him sleep. maybe because it's familiar?
- probably specific to my kid but he loves his blankie. we don't leave the house without it and we have 3 spares!
- small toys - his favorites are cars and trucks

Ok - back to work. I'll pop back in later if I think of anything else.

How long are you staying?

 

[noelwr]

thanks pupp! Skye does eat her veggies, but I buy similar pouches from the expat store here for back up in case Skye doesn't like her dinner.

oh! I realize now that you misunderstood my question. I am not bringing Skye with me on vacation (or else it wouldn't be much of a vacation). I am going for one week with my main purpose to be shopping. so my question is what do you recommend I buy for Skye, just in general, not for traveling purposes. I ask because they sell so much handy stuff in the States that you can't get here.

 

[Puppmom]

Whoops! Yay for a baby-free vacation then!

 

[nfowife]

-did you know they make a reusable/refillable pouch you can fill yourself with purees? It's awesome!
http://thesilico.com/

-We love the little tykes xylophone, push walker toys, shape sorter, and leapfrog music table for toys. Also the vtech electonic board book is fun for when we are out. As well as the parent's line of toys from Target- they have the best play cellphone and play keys.

handy things: playtex bibsters (disposable bibs, great for restaurants or when we eat out at friend's houses), nuby straw cups, and robeez shoes or similar knock-offs from Target.

 

[Puppmom]

-did you know they make a reusable/refillable pouch you can fill yourself with purees? It's awesome!
http://thesilico.com/

-We love the little tykes xylophone, push walker toys, shape sorter, and leapfrog music table for toys. Also the vtech electonic board book is fun for when we are out. As well as the parent's line of toys from Target- they have the best play cellphone and play keys.

handy things: playtex bibsters (disposable bibs, great for restaurants or when we eat out at friend's houses), nuby straw cups, and robeez shoes or similar knock-offs from Target.

Say it ain't so! Those dang pouches are expensive and there's a refillable one? I gotta get my hands on that. I feel terrible letting Nolan have purees because he should be exclusive on solids but he needs fruits and veggies from some source until we can get him to eat them in solid form.

 

[Loves Vintage]

I've been trying to think of things for your shopping trip. I'd probably want to stock up on clothing in different sizes and shoes. Do they recommend the soft sole shoes in Holland? I buy so much on-line, that I don't even know where they sell them in the stores. I know Target has them (as Nfowife mentioned), but they don't seem to have a lot in stock at my target. My friend always recommends Stride rite for kids shoes. They have robeez (at least on their website), but not sure what they would have in store. I know they have a stride-rite at an outlet mall here, so they may have one in Houston.

I also wanted to mention, if you happen to go to a Carter's store, that they ALWAYS have a printable coupon on-line, like this one: http://image.e.carters.com/lib/fefe1671706100/m/1/Carters_Cart-Abandon-2x_053054.jpg You just need to do a google search right before you go for "carter's in store coupon," and you will undoubtedly find one. They often have Carter's at outlet malls too, though the prices and inventory are the same as their retail shops as far as I can tell.

Gymboree has some super cute outfits, but I've found that they don't carry that much in baby sizes in their retail stores. You can look on-line before you go and see if anything interests you. Might be worth-while to ship to your friend's address in advance if there's something that you really like, but I know that takes the fun out of in-person shopping.

As far as toys, Melissa and Doug wooden toys are really popular here. I really like the fisher-price little people farm house. It's a classic toy that I had as a little girl. If you go to a toys r' us, the one here anyway, has a separate section for Imaginarium http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11773788. It's separate from the other "pre-school" aged toys, and I only mention it because it took me FOREVER to find it recently, and no one in the store (I asked 3 workers) seemed to know that it exists! If I recall correctly, the Melissa and Doug toys are in this section too.

I will post if I think of more.

 

[dcgator]

To add on to LV's post:
- Toys R Us/Babies R Us is having a gear sale right now on most car seats, highchairs, etc. where they take $10 off every $50 spent. I think it goes till the end of January, but its in store only.
- The Carter's outlets are DEFINTELY the way to go. If you need more 20% coupons, just let me know before your trip and I will send you some.
- The Children's Place outlets are great as well. I scored some great deals last time I went including $3 long sleeved tees.
- I think this is the closest outlet center to where you are going, if you are going to the place discussed in previous threads...
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=88

Hope that helps!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I don't know if there's anything I would sat are must haves that you could only get in the states. Aidan loves any sort of Playskool ball popper toy and any and every kind of book. For me the must have item right now is ibuprophen. My little man has been a non-stop teething machine.

 

[LALove]

When DS was 1, I couldn't live without:

Hylands teething tablets (stopped teething pain in minutes)

Sophie the giraffe squeaky teeter (he LOVED this and chewed it constantly):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000IDSLOG/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325219796&sr=8-1

Leapfrog music table:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003NX72D4/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1325219869&sr=8-3

Sleep Sheep on the go (strapped it to outside of crib during naps/bedtime and on stroller for naps on the go):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000J6CDY6/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325219932&sr=8-1

Little Tummys Gripe Water for gas:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001J5LDM4/ref=mp_s_a_5?qid=1325220045&sr=8-5

DS may have been under 1 when he stopped using this (can't remember) but
I used it with him from about 4 mos and up when he was in the car seat (only thing that worked to stop him from screaming- he hated the car seat!). Also good for bottles on the go if babe has a hard time holding her own bottle:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001V9KPBI/ref=mp_s_a_8?qid=1325220213&sr=8-8

Squeaker shoes- DS loved the squeaky noise these make when he was just starting out walking:
http://www.squeakersneakers.net/

Fisher Price Learning Home (purchased for $20 used). DS still plays with this 2 yrs later:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000284X6W/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325220587&sr=8-1

Sounds potty chair- DS was potty trained in days and this was a huge hit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001GQ2RWG/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325220726&sr=8-1

Huge cardboard building blocks:
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Cardboard-Blocks/dp/B000A12YBW/ref=cm_syf_dtl_pl_11

Push and ride on car. DS had this one but there cute girl ones too:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013AAMLI/ref=mp_s_a_29?qid=1325221196&sr=8-29

Playskool poppin pals:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00005N9EE/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325221345&sr=8-1

Leapfrog fridge magnet set (annoying because the pieces would always be all over the kitchen but DS played with it every day many times a day):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0001X0DR6/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325221440&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00134V4L6/ref=mp_s_a_6?qid=1325221559&sr=8-6

Peek a blocks:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00064MUJE/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325221625&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002YDPRO/ref=mp_s_a_6?qid=1325221625&sr=8-6

Born Free cups with straws- DS liked these best and still uses only these type of cups with straws.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003E1POWQ/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325221764&sr=8-1

Lever style door locks (have to install upside down but work great):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009EXOGE/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1325221957&sr=8-3

Mobi tykelight- DS had this in his room from birh to present and we take it with us when we travel:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0042RU31I/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325222194&sr=8-1

Badger brand anti bug balm and sunscreen (chemical free!):
http://www.badgerbalm.com/default.aspx

Oball - DS loved these balls he could actually grip (much less $ at baby stores):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00188XW26/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325222601&sr=8-1

Love these snack cups:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GB0NZK/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325222732&sr=8-1

A portable DVD player so DS can watch moves on longer car rides (total life saver!)

At 1, DS loved his magnetic doodle board similar to:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003TJALF8/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325222935&sr=8-1

Not really a "cant live without" item but DS love love loved this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001PAHGJM/ref=mp_s_a_2?qid=1325223046&sr=8-2

Ergo baby carrier- use this aalllll the time for hiking, long shopping trips etc and DS loved being on our backs (and we weren't sore afterwards like with other carriers):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001PDLHNK/ref=mp_s_a_8?qid=1325223374&sr=8-8

Again, not a must have but DS lives playing with sand and water tables outside in the summer. I like these 2:
http://www.littletikes.com/kids-toys/sand-sea-play-table
http://www.meijer.com/s/step2-shady-oasis-sand-and-water-play-table/_/R-190655;jsessionid=1C0A689571A195287AF9DE71C4FE5213.instance03?CAWELAID=947708473&cmpid=goobase

That's all I can think of right now..

Have fun shopping!!!!

(ps these aren't the best prices- I just picked the easiest links to show you the products )

 

[noelwr]

thanks ladies! can I use the Carter's coupons at a Carter's Outlet? I was able to find a couple on-line. my friend in Houston sends me the Toys R Us coupons.

I've also made a note of a few of things on LALove's long list.