When my son was born I thought I was prepared.  I devoured every book I could about childcare, developed a child-rearing plan that I felt would help me bond with my beautiful baby, and on his first day home from the hospital I promptly cut his finger with the baby nail clippers.

The reason I performed this mani-pedi was partly to practice my parenting skills (Oops!) and the other reason was I did not particularly care for the ugly cotton mitts the hospital thrust on his tiny fingers. (Which I promptly put back on those fingers so his father would not see what I accidentally did.)

Well he survived that, luckily. In fact he didn’t even cry (but I did, hormones you know.) These cute little mitts I saw reminded me of that story and I started thinking that if these were available in hospitals, that whole scene never would have happened.

iPlay Green Sprouts Organic Cotton Mitts are a safe way to keep your newborn from scratching themselves.  They slip easily over an infant’s hand and stay put with gentle elasticized tops.  Made from Organic Cotton, they are hypoallergenic and chemical free.  This is important since babies tend to wave their arms around for some reason (hailing a cab or something!) and you don’t want anything near their face that could be harmful to them. I love the bright color, too!

For less than three dollars, you can protect you baby’s delicate skin and leave the manicures to the experts.  (If you are still feeling brave after reading this, I suggest The First Year American Red Cross Sure Grip Nail Clippers.)

I promised some more amazing baby items from this smart and savvy mom, and you won’t be disappointed. Keep in mind the price point for organic cotton is high, except in this case.

Under The Nile uses only the finest Egyptian Cotton, yet their prices are competitive with what you would find in your local department store and in some cases, better.  Plus, you won’t find this brand just anywhere. I was so pleased to come across them and I know you will be too.

Organic Cotton Trouser: Incredibly soft against baby’ skin.  The vibrant color made from all natural vegetable dye adds to the incredible look of these inexpensive little pants.

Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Lap Shoulder Tee: Pair these with the softest trousers ever and you have a simple little outfit that looks great and washes well.  With a roomy shoulder opening, this no fuss top matches everything in baby’s wardrobe. Best to pick up a few.

Organic Cotton Terry Romper: Get them dressed quickly and effortlessly with this one-piece romper from Under The Nile.  Also available in blue, this outfit dries quickly (on a hot summer day!) thanks to its cool and comfy terry lining.

Organic Cotton Loungewear: How cute is this?  We were lucky they even made bathrobes when I was a kid!  This is perfect for those fall evening walks in a stroller or last minute summer dips in the pool.  They’ll be warm and cozy with the attached hood.  Perfect after-bath attire, too

This is just a sampling of some of my favorites that Under The Nile has to offer, but check out the complete collection on Pricegrabber.

I like to go to yard sales.  One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, right?

One thing I look for at these sales is toys.  You can often find Legos (like at my sister’s yard sale, thanks for saving them for me sis!) or favorite play figures.

Of course, you’ll want to clean these new treasures before passing them on. I used to fill the sink with some hot water and soap and let them soak for a while, Unfortunately, if your kid is with you they’ll want to get their hands on them right away.

Dapple Toy Cleaner Wipes is a friendly way to solve this little problem.  Packaged in a convenient travel pack, these all-natural wipes are perfect solution for the serious yard sale junkie. Using green technology, these wipes contain baking soda, purified water and essential oils.  The fabric is biodegradable, too.

These wipes are not anti-bacterial they just work like a good old-fashioned hand washing, which is better for a child’s immune system (let’s them build up resistance to some germs now and then) Of course, you’ll want to use these on everything your child comes in contact with from shopping carts to that “gotta have” used toy.

Winner of the iParenting award and the Yahoo Seeds For Success, this is one item you won’t want to leave home without. Look for it in the generous thirty –five-wipe canister or the handy spray.

OK- yes, you could make your own- but sometimes, well, we all need a convenient ready-made solution

Here’s a product that surprisingly I’ve never seen before, but I definitely recommend. I know, I know it’s another of my “favorite things to give as a gift.” But if you think about it, it’s really hard to find useful and adorable gifts for someone at the mall.

This is a Butterflies Sleeping Bag By Aden & Anais. Its purpose is to mimic the same soothing security your newborn receives when it is swaddled. As your baby gets older and starts to move around the crib, this super soft Muslim gown replaces that tightly bound blanket. Slip this on over their pajamas and it does the same thing. It has a nice inverted zipper, too so it’s easy to get off and on. (No pulling over baby’s head.)

The open weave design of the fabric allows a sleeping baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally, minimizing the risk of overheating, which has been linked to SIDS. This is especially nice for those new parents who live in a warm climate and don’t always need a blanket in the crib but want a little something soft to wrap their baby in, or for those new parents who are concerned about a blanket in the crib at all.

This fabulous product just won the iParenting media award for 2009 and is available in three sizes and other adorable prints like Pink Stars.

  Just this month I was looking through one of my favorite magazines, while waiting in the car for my son to finish camp.  I saw a bottle cover like the one I am about to share with you and I decided to search Pricegrabber to see if I could find it.

Of course, Pricegrabber offered a product that I think has a better design and at a better price.  I recently posted about the importance of not heating or cooling plastic due to the dangers of it. (Here’s to their Health) and this applies to baby bottles, as well.

While everyone knows nursing is best for your baby, it is not for everyone.  Even if you choose to breastfeed there could come a time when you have to give your baby a bottle, and choosing the right one can be confusing.   I recommend that you use glass, as heating and cooling in it is safer than plastic, and they clean and sterilize better.

EvenFlo Classis Cozy Glass Bottle With Sleeve is a three pack of clear glass bottles with colorful silicone sleeves to wear over them. The sleeves protect the glass from shattering if your baby accidentally (or not) throws it on the floor.  What a great idea! The raised finger holds make it easy for baby to grip on to it and it’s made of BPA free material. The sleeves are 100% recyclable, and come in six fashion colors.

These are the only bottles you’ll want to use.

I‘m  particular when it comes to buying a shower gift, or a gift for a new mom.  It must be practical, creative and something I would have liked to have had myself. (Cute never hurts, either!)

This time around, the present I purchased fulfilled only two of those requirements. Nonetheless, it was great because it was organic!

Natures Baby Disposable Bib Set will make life a new parent’s life little easier and a lot less messy.

As parents, we try to keep those new little outfits of theirs clean. (Squash and Sweet Potatoes never seem to come out in the wash for some reason.) How many of us have tucked a soiled bib into the pocket of a diaper bag and forgotten about it until weeks later?

This JUMBO set of 240 chlorine free bibs is hypoallergenic, eco-friendly and disposable. Keep some in the car, some in the house or even some at grandma’s house.  No more forgetting bibs or leaving them somewhere.

These are not as fancy as the cute little embroidered ones your mother-in-law gave you. Instead they are clean and white, (And white goes with everything, right?!) Most importantly, they are always on hand.  Isn’t that the point of a bib anyway?

You’ll buy so many you might run out of places to store them !

Since I’ve discovered Mrs. Meyers, I have become one of her biggest fans. Not only does her company make terrific all–natural cleaning products, they also make some wonderful products for your baby.  One that really inspires me is Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Baby Massage Oil. Many studies have shown that infant massage plays a vital role in a baby’s growth and development simply by the power of touch.  The benefits are numerous including sensory stimulation, improved blood circulation and facilitate body awareness.

Nothing helps build a bond between a parent and child like a little “rub down” Apply this gentle Aroma therapeutic massage oil all over your baby’s body.  Its natural organic oils infused with fragrances such as spring wildflowers, honeysuckle, apple, lemon and mint relax them after a long day and will get them to sleep easier.

This great company also makes a soothing baby balm (Mrs. Meyers Baby Blossom Diaper Baby Balm) made with zinc oxide and organic Olive Oil to protect babies bottom.

While there are many natural and organic products readily available in the marketplace, Mrs. Meyers line of baby products cost less than what you would pay at your local health food store or pharmacy and are a great way to give your baby the TLC they deserve.

Laundry is not one of my favorite things to do, and yet I seem to do it a lot. Like most moms (or dads) I’m always looking for the one item that will make this job a little bit easier and a little more enjoyable (short of hiring a laundress.)

I came across wonderful laundry soap by a company called Mrs. Meyers (yes, she really does exist).  A mother of nine children should know a little bit about washing clothes I would think, so I checked her out.

Mrs. Meyers Baby Blossom Laundry Detergent is made from all natural ingredients inspired by her gardens.  Lemon, honeysuckles and verbena as well as essential oils enhance this aromatherapy experience and are especially good at fighting stains.

No added phosphates, bleach, distillates or chemicals are added so they are perfect for your baby’s sensitive skin.  These detergents are richly scented and perfectly safe for expectant mothers to use.  All of her products are cruelty free and never tested on animals.

These organic and biodegradable detergents are the perfect product to add to your busy household.  These extraordinary detergents are also available in other natural fragrances as well as fabric softeners. (Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lemon Verbena Fabric Softener)  this luxury item makes a fantastic baby gift (with a couple pairs of organic baby socks) or simply as a special treat for you.

One of the most exciting milestones in our infant’s life is the arrival of his or her first tooth.We exclaim over their emergence then spend the next 18 years reminding them to brush them.

Perhaps because we have a dentist in the family, this ritual is particularly close to my heart.  The tiny little pearls that appear in that first toothy grin of theirs are precious, so teaching them to keep them clean from a young age is imperative.

The Safety Toothbrush from One Step Ahead is the one I used and it is a safe and gentle introduction to baby’s first teeth cleaning.

This comes in a two pack, which is important, as your baby will most likely drop at least one toothbrush on the ground a lot.   The big chunky handle allows her to grip it easily while the tiny soft bristles gently clean her teeth.

They will usually turn this around and gnaw on the rubber handle too.  This is great for babies who are teething, as this will gently massage their gums. And the wide base on it won’t allow baby to insert it too far into the mouth.

I like to tie this on to a gift for the new baby.  This is one way to get them started on the road to good oral hygiene and an amazing smile!

Another spring has come and gone and it’s a good thing I live in an allergy free region.

As a child, I suffered horribly with them. I used to endure weekly shots and consume countless medications for my constant sneezing and congestion, all to no avail.

While the recent medical news in regard to children’s cold and allergy medications is not good (they don’t work anyway) there is a way to offer your child relief.

The Neti Pot has been around for thousand of years and is used in homeopathic medicine practices. Now you can clear stuffy noses quickly and naturally using only pure saline and warm water with the SinuPot Neti Pot.

Simply fill the Neti pot with the pre-measured solution and warm water and insert it gently into their nostril. Your child then tips their head to one side and the water will gently flow thru the sinus cavity and out the other nostril, clearing the passage so they can breathe again.

The Neti Pot can be used daily with no medical concerns and is actually approved by pediatricians as a safe and effective way to clear nasal passages.

Some things I ‘ve learned by using the Neti Pot

1. This is a particularly fun (or gross, depending on the kid) activity for a sibling who may be watching.

2.  Having your kid use it while in the shower works REALLY well because the water is already in their face anyway so they don’t seem to notice it as much.

3. When you run out of solution packs, you can use iodized salt and warm water.