There’s nothing harder than caring for a baby that’s sick, especially before they can verbalize what’s bothering them, or blow their noses. There are many tricks on how to soothe a sick baby, but the latest product from FridaBaby looks like a winning solution.

FridaBaby, the makers of the highly acclaimed NoseFrida, have a brand new product to help ease stuffiness in those impossibly tiny nostrils. The all natural Vapor Bath Bombs are exactly what they sound like, a dissolving bath fizz that is infused with soothing eucalyptus and lavender oils.

photo: Target

They are safe to use for kids ages 2 and up and, because you know that stuffy nose is sure to hit you next, these sound like the perfect remedy even for grown-ups. The FridaBaby Vapor Bath Bombs are available now at Target for just $8 for a pack of three.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Jelleke Vanooteghem via Unsplash

 

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The petite party circuit is in full swing, and in order to help you out, we’ve carefully curated 20 unique party favors that all kids will love. From sparkly lights that’ll give their bike a fun glow to doughnut-shaped crayons that look good enough to eat, pick out your favorites below, and make your celebration the pint-sized party of the year.

Forest Friends Masks

Lilly and the Bee

After having a wild time with all your little party animals, send them home with these animal masks as favors. Made of sturdy felt, Lilly and the Bee's adorable forest friends masks will make a great addition to kids' dress-up bins.

Available at Etsy seller Lilly and the Bee, $13.99 for 7.

Seed Bombs

Renaissance Botanical

Packed with seeds for flowers that will attract birds and butterflies, seed bombs make for a beautiful party favor. The dense balls are a mix of seeds and other natural ingredients and come with instructions so kids will know how to make their gardens grow.

Available from Etsy seller Renaissance Botanical, $39 for 30.

Crazy Putty Party

Amazon

Eight different mini tins of Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty will delight eight different party guests. Kids love to stretch, squish and twist this putty, whether they have a glow-in-the-dark or heat-changing hyper color tin.

Available at Amazon, $29.95 for 8.

Classic Yo-Yos

I Used to Be a Tree

Don't want to pass out more plastic? These simple, sleek wooden yo-yos are ready for painting and playing. They make a unique party favor that kids will keep around.

Available at Etsy seller I Used to Be a Tree, $24 for 12.

Animals of the World Stickers

Chronicle Books

Ten feet of stickers, ten hours of fun. Mudpuppy's Animals of the World Sticker Roll features little ones' favorite animals, ready to peel and stick all over the place.

Available at chroniclebooks.com, $4.99.

Little Golden Books

Amazon

Make new friends—book friends that is—with Little Golden Books. Send home classics like The Shy Little Kitten or the Pokey Little Puppy with your party guests. It's one uniquely bookish party favor that kids and parents will love.

Available at Amazon, from $4.08.

Minifigs

LEGO

Everything is awesome, especially some LEGO Minifigure party favors. Each bag contains one of 20 Minifigures from The LEGO Movie 2. If your kid's more into Hogwarts than Emmet and Lucy, pass out Harry Potter LEGO Minifigures instead.

Available at Lego, $3.99.

Ice Cream Poppers

Oh Happy Day

Kids will scream for these ice cream shooter party favors. These retro toys pack a lot of fun in a tiny, delicious-looking package.

Available at Oh Happy Day, $8 for 8.

Rainbow Lollipops

Dylan's Candy Bar

Give your guests a sugar rush with a Whirly Pop from Dylan's Candy Bar. Even Willy Wonka himself would be impressed by this giant candy confection.

Available at Dylan's Candy Bar $12 for 4.

Birthday Cake Slime

The Sweet Slime Factory

Make it a batch of scented Birthday Cake Slime with extra sprinkles, please. Available in sizes from two to eight ounces, it's an ooey-gooey favor all kids will adore.

Available from Etsy seller the Sweet Slime Factory, from $4.50.

Sidewalk Chalk

Yoobi

Multicolored chalk from Yoobi makes every sidewalk drawing a masterpiece. With three pieces per set, this chalk is a fantastic, artsy party favor.

Available at Yoobi, $1.99.

Mini Playing Cards

Bicycle Playing Cards

This party favor is for the dogs—and dog-lovers. The small size of these decks (and the price) from Bicycle Cards make them a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Available at Bicycle Cards, $.50.

Silly String

Silly String

What kid doesn't love Silly String? As a party favor, Silly String brings the fun home for all of your little one's buddies.

Available at Target, $7.50 for 3.

Fruit-Scented Erasers

Everything Smells

There's no mistaking it: these fruit-scented icy pop erasers are extra cool. Plus, they're puzzles that kids will have fun taking apart and putting back together again. 

Available from Everything Smells, $3.

Donut Crayons

Krazy Kool Krayons

Get a party favor to match that doughnut cake. These round, chunky crayons are easy for little hands to hold, and, when paired with a notepad, make for a delicious party treat to take home.

Available from Etsy seller Krazy Kool Krayons, $8 for 8.

Tic Tac Toe to Go

Bella and Kate Designs

Send your party guests off with a game. These tic tac toe sets come in canvas bags that can be customized to fit with your party theme, or with guests' names. It's a fun, unique favor that kids will reuse again and again.

Available from Etsy seller Bella and Kate Designs, $5

 

Bike Lights

Happium

Keep all the kids in your neighborhood safe for twilight bike rides with a color-changing LED bike light. The lights securely attach to bicycle wheels and have three different twinkling, super-bright modes. These party favors are sure to light up the night!

Available from Etsy seller Happium, $4.40 for two

Birthday Cake Bath Bombs

Simply AC Boutique

Your birthday party will last all the way until bath time, thanks to these birthday cake bath bombs. In bright yellow, they fizz and bubble once in the tub. Just add water!

Available from Etsy seller Simply AC Boutique, $26 for 10

Big-A-Bubbles

Zing Air

Zing Air's Big-A-Bubbles makes it easy for preschoolers to create bubbles with a wave of their hands. All they need to do is put on the included glove, dip it in the bubble solution, and whirl around. They're a unique twist on giving bubbles for a party favor. 

Available at Target, $1.99.

Tattly Tattoos

Tattly

This pack of eight mischievous monsters will please even the toughest crowd. Made by Tattly, specialists in unique nontoxic tattoos that you won't find anywhere else, these little guys will stick around after application for two to four days.

Available at Tattly, $15 for 8.

 

 

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When it comes to kids birthday parties, favors are probably on the top of your list. If you’ve got a birthday coming up this winter, you’re in luck—we’ve scoured Etsy for the coolest party favors that all come in at $5 or less. Scroll down to see the goods.

photo: Confetti Momma on Etsy

1. Elsa Crowns
Frozen-obsessed kids can become Elsa for the day with these sparkly crowns from Confetti Momma. All that’s missing is her signature braid!

Available from Confetti Momma on Etsy, $0.99 each

photo: Happygotrekkie on Etsy

2. Snowflake Crayons
These cute crayons from Happygotrekkie are the perfect favor for your winter party, and you can request your kiddo’s favorite colors. The glitter is optional, but we love the festive touch it adds.

Available from Happygotrekkie on Etsy, $0.75 for a 4-pack

photo: HedgeHogsandLadyBugs on Etsy

3. Holiday Pencil Toppers
Kids will take on school in style with these wintry pencil toppers from HedgeHogsandLadyBugs. Pair the handcrafted reindeer, snowflakes and Christmas trees with colorful pencils and you’ve got an awesome favor that’s actually useful.

Available from HedgeHogsandLadyBugs on Etsy, $1.50

photo: Little Turtle Soaps on Etsy

4. Snowflake Bath Bombs
We love the idea of putting bath bombs in goody bags—kids love to watch them fizz, and it gets them excited about taking a bath. This cute snowflake variety from Little Turtle Soaps is sparkly and fun but easy on the wallet.

Available from Little Turtle Soaps on Etsy, $1 each

photo: Sweet Thymes on Etsy

5. Wintry Favor Bags
You’re going to need a bag to put all these goodies in, and this one from Sweet Thymes is an awesome option. It’s stamped with a bunch of wintry words, and you can request the color to match the rest of your party.

Available from Sweet Thymes on Etsy, $1-$2.60 each

photo: Blissful Perfections on Etsy

6. Metal Deer Clip
Help guests keep their papers organized with this cute metal deer clip from Blissful Perfections. And check out the store’s other options, like reindeer or snowflake paper clips.

Available from Blissful Perfections on Etsy, $1 each

photo: Azurea Studio on Etsy

7. Snowflake Hair Tie
We’re all about functional favors, and these hair ties from Azurea Studio definitely fit the bill. They’re cute enough to wear all winter long!

Available from Azurea Studio on Etsy, $1.10 each

photo: Sugar Bakers Bakery on Etsy

8. S’mores Pops
Sweeten up the deal with these tasty pops from Sugar Bakers Bakery. They’re made with marshmallows dipped in Belgian chocolate and graham cracker crumbs—yum!

Available from Sugar Bakers Bakery on Etsy, $1.35 each

photo: Annie Fannie Crafts on Etsy

9. Peppermint Lip Balm
These peppermint lip balms from Annie Fannie Crafts are sure to be a hit, and they’ll come in handy all winter long. You can even personalize them with a message of your choice.

Available from Annie Fannie Crafts on Etsy, $1.29 each

photo: LolliLuscious

10. Snowman Soap
We love these cute soaps from LolliLuscious—your guests can bring Frosty home with them! Available in sparkly pink, white and blue, they’re almost too pretty to use. Check out the shop’s sweet snowflake soaps too.

Available from LolliLuscious on Etsy, $1.50-$3.45 each

photo: LM Creative Designs on Etsy

11. Gingerbread Cookie Cutters
Help your guests get ready for holiday baking by gifting them these gingerbread man cookie cutters from LM Creative Designs. The shop has lots of other shapes to choose from, too—check out the reindeer, snowman or mitten options.

Available from LM Creative Designs on Etsy, $1.85 each

photo: PricklyCactusCollage on Etsy

12. Snowman Buttons/Magnets
Keep things simple but fun with this easy favor from PricklyCactusCollage. You can request buttons or magnets, and be sure to check out the shop’s other holiday-themed offerings.

Available from PricklyCactusCollage on Etsy, $1.50-$3 each

photo: Christina’s Chocolates on Etsy

13. Snowflake Chocolate Lollipops
Thanks to Christina’s Chocolates, you don’t have to spend hours making edible party favors yourself. These glittery chocolate lollipops will wow your guests and give you more time to enjoy the party.

Available from Christina’s Chocolates on Etsy, $1.75 each

photo: Creative Bottle Caps on Etsy

14. Personalized Keychains
Snag these personalized keychains from Creative Bottle Caps for kiddos who love snow sports. You can also opt for bookmarks, zipper pulls or necklaces, and the colors are customizable too.

Available from Creative Bottle Caps on Etsy, $5 each

photo: Ashley Fotopoulos on Etsy

15. Reindeer Hot Chocolate Bag Mix
Check out these cute hot chocolate mixes from Ashley Fotopoulos—we love the cute reindeer look, and they make a tasty treat for the little ones on a cold day.

Available from Ashley Fotopoulos on Etsy, $2 each

—Susie Foresman

Once upon a time kids set up roadside lemonade stands and had paper routes (back when the news was in print and not online) to make money. But now, the possibilities seem limitless. And two sisters are taking advantage of the fact that even kids can create their own destinies — and their own businesses! Isabel and Caroline Bercaw are teenage sisters who are taking the bath bomb business by storm. Check out the sister’s superstar story.

photo: Target.com

When the Bercaw sisters were 10 and 11 they started making bath bombs in their Minneapolis basement. With the ginormous amount of DIY info out there, it’s no wonder that girls like these two got to work and made their own bath and beauty products. Well, the sisters didn’t stop there.

They saw a problem with most of the bath bombs they’d tried. And they wanted to solve it. While most of the supposedly fizzy bombs stopped working too soon, Isabel and Caroline devised a way to keep their bath products working for a much longer time (even after the bath ended). Oh, and they added a themed surprise inside.

Naming their line Da Bomb Bath Fizzers, the sisters launched their products at mega-retailer Target. Whoa! Not only are the girls enjoying major product growth with increasing sales, but they’re also giving back. Sales from the “Earth Bomb” fizzer are going to eco-organizations that help the planet.

What do you think about these teen-preneneurs? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Earlier this spring, the second annual Acton Children’s Business Fair of Washington, D.C. hosted more than 114 young entrepreneurs in Cleveland Park. The second largest entrepreneurship event for kids in the U.S., this one-day marketplace gives children ages 6 to 14 the opportunity to create a business, sell to real customers, and decide themselves what to do with the profits. In addition to selling their products, entrepreneur judges awarded thirteen $50 cash prizes for best businesses. Below we highlight five of these cool, local kid businesses.

Little Green Home
Avajane, Zoe, and Will won a Highest Growth Potential award for Little Green Home, a company that makes homemade bath bombs and practical household goodies with all non-toxic all natural ingredients. The trio knows these items can be purchased at your local store, but they also know store-bought products could have toxic and harmful chemicals. Their goal is to educate and introduce their version of these all-natural, non-toxic products to local families.

Places They Like in the DMV: Avajane loves all the Smithsonian museums, monuments as well as hiking trails around where she lives. Zoe loves to move around! She enjoys rock climbing at Earth Treks in Crystal City. Cactus Cantina is her fave restauraunt. Will likes to eat at Guapo’s! The Palisades Rec Center if his favorite place to hang out, he likes shopping for toys at Sullivan’s on Wisconsin Avenue and the Air & Space is his fave museum!

Happy Maker
Sixth grader, Sara Arlett’s business is called, Happy Maker (saramarlett@ gmail.com for inquiries). She uses clay and felt to make charms, key chains and earrings. She enjoys making jewelry because it allows her to be creative and at the same time relaxes her. She hopes to improve her design by diversifying her creations with other materials and also hopes to learn how to better promote her business via social media.

Places She Likes in the DMV: Sara loves the National Museum of Natural History where she can spend hours exploring rocks, bones, and fossils. The Spy Museum and National Gallery of Art are two other favorites. An avid read, Sara loves spending time at the MLK and Georgetown public libraries. She also has a special affection for her parish, St. Patrick’s Church, where she has volunteered for years. The Hamilton is her fave DC restaurant.

Lauren’s Edible Bites
Lauren began baking two years ago. She entered her first cupcake competition in 2015 and won first place! She knew then that baking was a hobby she needed to pursue. She was hesitant to join the Acton Business Fair but, with her parent’s encouragement, she entered and had a great experience with lots of sales. When she’s not baking, Lauren likes to make clay figurines, sew, and draw. Interested in placing an order from Lauren? Call 301.850.4307.

Places She Likes in the DMV: Lauren’s favorite restaurant is Sala Thai and she (hearts) sushi!  Her favorite place to visit is Make Meaning.

Joshy’s Soap Bars
Six-year-old Joshua, launched Joshy’s Soap Bars because he has very sensitive skin and can’t use a lot of the soaps found in stores. He wanted to make cool and fun natural soaps for every skin type.  His soaps come in different shapes and sizes and some even have toys in them!  Each bar of soap is made with organic ingredients like coconut oil, palm oil, safflower oil, vegetable glycerine, shea butter and jojoba oil.  They are all 100% vegan and never tested on animals. Joshua is in the process of setting up an Etsy store. In the meantime, he is accepting orders through their business email address: JoshysSoapBars@gmail.com

Places He Likes in the DMV: Joshua loves learning computer programming and robotics, reading, playing basketball and spending time with his family.  He loves trying new foods and going to Watkin’s Park

Lenee V Designs
Lenee V Designs was founded by nine year old Riverdale, Md resident, Laila Lenee Vidal. She designs cross body bags and hair accessories for girls. Laila took up sewing after observing her aunt sew and using her leftover scraps of fabric. Her parents bought her a sewing machine and the rest is history! Laila is a girly girl who loves to be adventurous and travelling. You can shop for her items on her Etsy page.

Places She Likes in the DMV: Laila loves visiting the monuments and museums in DC. She enjoys going to restaurants such as Olive Garden, TGI Fridays and La Chiquita. Her dream is to donate her headbands for girls who are ill whether in a hospital or recovering.

Do you know any other awesome kid entreprenuers? Tell us about them in the comments below.

–Guiomar Ochoa

Got a reluctant bather or maybe your kiddos are a little bored with the soap and water routine? We figured out 10 epic ways to makeover the ordinary bath into something that rivals scenes from Jurassic Park. And the best part? It’s safe, creative and easy to pull off. Well, actually, the best part is your kids get clean but the fun-factor is cool too! Scroll down to get inspired.

dinobathbombs_aisacitro_bathfun_bathtime_national_redtricycle
photo: Asia Citro

1. Dinosaur Bath Bombs
Bombs Away!!! Make a few dinosaur bath bombs with a DIY recipe from Asia at Fun at Home with Kids. Kids will get a kick out of watching their mini-dino “hatch.” This activity works great in the tub or just in a pan of water. Find out how Asia perfected her recipe by checking out the entire tutorial at Fun at Home with Kids.

glowinthedarkbath_asiacitro_bathfun_bathtime_national_redtricycle
photo: Asia Citro

2. Glow-in-the-Dark Bath
Add this one to the list of things your kids will want to do over and over again. While they might not get exactly clean, the fun factor is off the charts. Curious to know what makes this water glow? Skip over to Fun at Home with Kids for the secret (and safe!) ingredients for this brilliant bath.

waterwall_crystalunderwood_bathfun_bathtime_national_redtricycle
Photo: Crystal Underwood

3. Make a Water Wall
Plastic bottles are so much more than drinking vessels. In this case, they are the materials for creating a killer water wall. Crystal of Growing a Jeweled Rose, a.k.a. the queen of bathtime, offers up an easy-peasy project designed to help kids master the perfect pour. Find out how it’s done by hopping over to Growing a Jeweled Rose.

bathpaint_kristingentry_bathtimefun_bathtime_national_redtricycle
photo: Kristin Gentry

4. Homemade Bath Paint
Paint your way to cleaner fingers and toes with homemade bath paint. We absolutely love the recipe from creative mama Kristin at Kojo Designs. Mix up stuff we know you’ve got lying around, pour and paint! Find out what to use and how to get the texture just right by grabbing the how-to over at Kojo Designs.

DIYsoapcrayons_KylieGardner_bathfun_bathtime_national_redtricycle
Photo: Kylie Gardner

5. Easy Soap Crayons
Kids will always jump at the chance to scribble on something that isn’t paper. Give your approval and better yet, provide the tools! Make a batch of soap crayons with just three ingredients, mold into favorite shapes and leave out to dry before taking them into the tub. For tips and tricks from craft creator Kylie, visit Childhood 101.

beachbath_crystalunderwood_bathfun_bathtime_national_redtricycle

photo: Chrystal Underwood

6. Host a Beach Bath
Jonesing for sun, surf and sand? Throw your own beach bash right in the tub. Shells, beach balls, blue water and bathing beauties make for one sunshine filled afternoon. We love how Chrystal whipped up a batch of bath sensory sand. Get the low-down on this easy themed bath over at Bath Activities for Kids. Surfs up!

icefishing_ericawhatwedoallday_bathfun_bathtime_national_redtricycle
Photo: What We Do All Day

7. Ice Fishing
There’s nothing fishy about this neat-o way to liven up bath time. Erica of What We Do All Day froze large cubes of play fish and other sea creatures, tossed them into the tub and watched her two boys dive and dump the melting ice. We love the easy (and cool) aspect of this activity—all you need is a freezer! Head over to What We Do All Day for the tutorial.

carbath_ Samantha Soper_Caetano_bathfun_bathtime_national_redtricycle
Photo: Samantha Soper-Caetano

8. Things That Go Vroom Bath
Start your engines and gear up for a swift and speedy trip around the racetrack (we like to call it the tub!) Blogger mom Samantha offers up her own clever take on baths with a kid-friendly car theme. Find out why the best part is those color coordinated road signs by tripping over to Stir the Wonder.

lemonbath_jaime_bathtime_national_redtricycle
Photo: Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

9. Lemon Scented Bath Ice
This sensory bath looks and smells delicious. The color is vivid and with a few yellow colored bath toys, this is a color lesson kids will be begging to take. Find out how to get the color just right on those cubes and for more ideas about colored baths, head over to Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.

volcanodinobath_genny_inlieuofpreschool_bathtime_national_redtricycle
photo: In Lieu of Preschool

10. Hot Lava Paint
It’s an explosion of creativity and wonder in the bath with a volcano themed bath like the one Genny of In Lieu of Preschool set up for her two kids. Shaving cream is a go-to tool for kicking bath time up a notch—it smells great and cleans up in a flash—-so this easy red lava paint is a winner in our book. Add tiny dinos for fantasy play and be on your way. Find out how to make the perfect volcano shape by checking out the entire post over at In Lieu of Preschool.

waterballoonbath_ashley_playathomemom_bathtimefun_national_redtricycle
photo: Ashley Kagan

11. Water Balloon Bath
If you think water balloons are just for hot summer days, think again. Throw a few in the tub with your kiddo and suddenly, the bath just got interesting. Fill a few with water, fill a few with air. For more on this simple but totally awesome bath idea, head over to Play at Home Mom LLC.

Editor’s Note: We at Red Tricycle encourage cool ways to play. That being said, please supervise kids in and around water and materials at all times. Cheers! 

What’s your favorite way to give bath time a boost? Shout about it in the comments below!

—Gabby Cullen

Tinkerers, thinkers, budding scientists and curious kids have a new place to go: The Laboratory has opened in Bucktown. With kids’ classes and camps in everything from robotics to Harry Potter wizardry, it’s a happy-go-lucky place that takes science seriously (its founders are National Board Certified teachers and one is a PhD Research Scientist!). Here’s the scoop on what’s going to be your favorite place for extra-curricular excitement.

The Scene
Owners Amy and Ed Kang want to make science exciting for kids and show how it can be a meaningful part of everyday life. That means giving young learners an awesome space in which to experiment and throw ideas around. The Laboratory’s big butcher blocks are designed for group collaboration and students are encouraged to draw on the walls. It’s the kind of place big brainstorms are born in. And the lab coats and safety goggles make things more authentic and fun.

The Laboratory offers adult classes, too, and the entire environment encourages curiosity, movement and collaboration, no matter your age. For inspiration, just look to the main wall that features original artistic diagrams of Illinois native plants, types of snowflakes, examples of Illinois animal footprints and a diagram of the brain — all rendered by an Art Institute of Chicago student. The shelves are filled with plants, art supplies and modern science books, which are always up for grabs. What’s more, students also have access to a 3-D printer, microcontroller and solderless electronics.

The Classes
Everything is built around inquiry, exploration, problem-solving and troubleshooting, and students work hands-on and collaboratively to create. A variety of technology and materials is at their side. For example, in the Intro to Robotics class, instead of having students put together a pre-made kit, they’ll start with the basic elements (gears, circuits and electronics) and be encouraged to use critical thinking to understand how they move in different ways and make something light up. Kids will leave the class having made their own mechanical ‘bot.’

Other classes for young learners include Spa Chemist, which involves using elements of chemistry to create fragrances and bath bombs. Open to kids in grades 3-6, it will delve into the history of fragrance dating back to Egyptian times; they’ll re-create a fragrance similar to what Cleopatra would have worn and will learn why perfumes were so important in Marie Antoinette’s court. Keep a lookout for an upcoming “Frozen” class, in which kids will make crowns and Sven’s antlers that will light up.

The Harry Potter Camp
The sorting hat? It’s real, and it’s at The Laboratory. For the Spring Break Camp, Welcome to Hogwarts, kids start their adventure by being sorted into houses and making their own wands. Through the week, your Muggles will study topics such as Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Arithmancy, Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Students are given their very own stuffed pet owl that delivers them coded messages each morning when they arrive. Practically, kids will learn the chemistry behind how potions work and create their own creatures.

The Bottom Line
Instructors encourage independence and creativity, and emphasize that there is no right or wrong answer. Above all, they make science interesting and give kids a real hand in the process. Where else can tots scribble all over the walls and get rewarded for it? Have fun, young scientists!

The Laboratory
2349 W. North Ave.
Bucktown
630-880-6458
Online: thelaboratorychi.org

What do you think of this new place for kids’ classes? Let us know in the Comments!

— Kelly Aiglon