Whether your baby is doing an army crawl on their elbows or a sprint on all fours, crawling is a game-changer, adding new fun activities and putting major baby-proofing-pressure on parents. Here are 15 items, from safety must-haves to fun toys, that’ll make your life with a tiny mover easier.

Clever Cabinet Locks

Lock away breakables and cleaning supplies with the Safety 1st Magnetic Locking System. Cabinet locks come in all forms, from the slide locks that wrap around knobs in the front to the latches that go inside of them. Although they can take some time to install, magnetic locks are the most secure of the bunch. Pick up extra magnetic keys so you won't get locked out of your cabinets along with your little one.

Available at amazon.com, $24.75.

A Fun Tunnel

Once your baby is on the move, they'll love having new places to go. A tunnel gives them a fun place to crawl through and hide, with interesting colors and textures. Especially great for small apartments and rainy days indoors. 

Available at ikea.com, $14.99.

Animals on Wheels

Your newly mobile babe loves having toys that go where they go. These Animals on Wheels are a fresh alternative to pushing cars and trucks through the house. Each one comes with a handle that makes it easy for new crawlers to hold on to. These toys are made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs.

Available at greentoys.com, $12.99.

Pants with Safety Grips

Hardwood floors can be slippery for crawlers. Go Little One Go puts safety grips on the knees of cute leggings so babies have traction while they're on the move. These pants are machine washable and come in a bunch of colors, including black, pink and indigo. 

Available at golittleonego.com, $19.99.

Lots of Bells and Whistles

Sometimes, you might want your on-the-go kid to stay in place for a few minutes. That's when a learning table comes in handy. Featuring musical instruments and more than 70 songs, the LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table Activity Center can be plopped on the floor for crawlers to explore, or put up on the included legs when your crawler starts pulling up to stand. 

Available at amazon.com, $39.82.

Anti-Shock Outlet

Outlets are unfortunately at baby height, so they're enticing for little fingers. Keep them off limits with sliding outlet covers, like KidCo's Universal Outlet Cover. Slide the cover to plug something in, and then when you remove the plug, the cover slides back into place. 

Available at walmart.com, $8.43.

Balls that Shake, Rattle and Roll

Now that your baby can go, go, go, they'll love crawling to catch this adorable, rattling ball from Skip Hop, which comes complete with teethers, beads and openings that make it easy to grasp. Comes in three adorable animals: hedgehog, fox and owl.

Available at skiphop.com, $8.

Rolling Balls

Tire out your baby before naptime with the Little Tikes Li'l Ocean Explorers Ball Chase Octopus. It automatically releases balls from the octopus's tentacles, so your baby will have lots of opportunities to chase after the colored balls. It also teaches fine motor skills and coordination.

Available at target.com, $18.14.

Cord Organizer Extraordinaire

Keep dangling cords in control and out of reach of curious baby hands with the Hanging Cable Loft Cord Keeper. Thought up by industrial design students from the Rhode Island School of Design, it'll keep six cords from tangling on the floor behind your desk, while a silicone strip keeps the whole thing in place.

Available at containerstore.com, $14.99.

Pint-size Cab for Your Cutie

Crawlers love to chase after rolling toys, and you'll love this one because it's made of reclaimed wood, so it's eco-friendly. Non-toxic, VOC-free paint means your little one won't be exposed to harmful chemicals when they decide to give it a nibble.

Available at boutiquelittle.com, $22.

Secure TV Straps

Your crawler will be pulling themselves up to stand in no time. And that means many new things become accessible to them, including televisions that aren't mounted to the wall. To keep your baby from pulling the TV onto themselves, get some heavy-duty straps to secure it in place, like these anti-tip TV straps from Teddykins.

Available at amazon.com, $11.95.

A Wobbly Bobbly Ball

Here's another ball your baby is sure to love. It doesn't roll across the floor like any old ball, it vibrates and wobbles in all different directions, making ball play even more fun for newbie crawlers.

Available at target.com, $12.89.

Safer Laundry Detergent Packaging

Crawlers love discovering new things and then putting them in their mouths. So keep cleaning products up high and locked away, especially laundry detergent pods. Tide Pods Child-Guard Pack comes with a child-guard zipper for a little extra protection and peace of mind.

Available at amazon.com, $16.99.

Crawling Bee Buddy

This supercute bee uses lights, music and buzzing sounds to entertain and encourage your little crawler. The bee is removable for even more play, and the cloud it's cradled in can move in circles or a random pattern to keep your baby intrigued.

Available at skiphop.com, $25.

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes

Crawlers are ready to move from slipper socks to adorable moccasins. This handmade pair from Etsy seller Curly and Gus Baby Co comes adorned with woodland animals: bunnies, owls and foxes. You can choose faux suede soles that won't slip, or pick waterproof rubber soles that are extra grippy.

Available at etsy.com, $19.63.

Oz Spies

RELATED STORIES:

The Best Classic Toys for Active Crawlers

Let’s Get Moving: 10 DIY Games for Crawlers

13 Tips for Surviving Once Baby Is on the Move

Every parent’s worst nightmare came true for North Dakota mom Hannah Mckinney Pope when she and her two-month-old daughter were involved in a terrible car accident. In a viral Facebook post about car seat safety, Pope details what exactly happened and how her infant daughter Robin actually slid out of her otherwise secure car seat.

Pope was driving her minivan with her daughter strapped in the back when she was involved in the accident. Her van flipped twice, back to front and finally rested on its side. Baby Robin was ejected from her car seat, and thankfully only sustained a hairline fracture in her arm and a few cuts. So what happened?

When Pope located the car seat in the vehicle, they were astonished to find that the straps were still pulled tight and locked. Additionally, the seat was still securely locked in the car seat base. In essence, the car seat did its job and was safely installed.

The reason Robin was ejected was because the after-market sheepskin strap covers Pope installed that did not come with the car seat. In a statement to Good Housekeeping, she states a car seat instructor identified that “the sheepskin seatbelt strap covers quickly [slid] against her daughter’s shirt causing her to fly out of the seat.”

This incident serves as a reminder that parents should exercise extreme caution when using any products related to their child’s car seat safety.

The Car Seat Lady reminds us that “Anything in the original box with the car seat (or sold separately AND specifically allowed by the seat manufacturer) has rigorous standards it must meet; most importantly, it has been crash tested with that particular car seat AND proven to be safe.”

Rule of thumb? Stay away from the cute accessories you buy separately and stick with those that came with your seat. Hannah Pope learned the scary way that safety trumps style every time!

 

––Karly Wood

featured photo: Graco 

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Ready, carry, go! These two new strollers will get you out and about without slowing your roll. The Uppababy Minu and Oxo Tot Air are both compact, lightweight strollers big on handy features, including a carrying strap so you can tote them around when not in use. Perfect for buses, trains, airports, stairs and other tricky spots. Read on for all the details about these two awesome rides.

Oxo Tot Air Stroller
Oxo, the company known for its clever and comfort-focused kitchen products, has taken that ingenuity into the baby market. Their latest stroller, Air, launched in October and clocks in at only 11 pounds, a light weight that makes it easy to pick up and go.

The Air folds into a compact package, stands upright locked in place and is a snap to carry with the built-in strap. You’ll also love the 5-point safety harness, large storage basket, UPF 50 canopy with peek-a-boo window, and zippered pocket for your cell phone, keys, wallet, and more.

For babies starting at 6 months. Available in black, orchid purple and jade green, at oxo.com, $179.99.

UPPAbaby Minu
There’s a new entry in UPPAbaby’s collection of stylish and highly functional strollers. The Minu, which launches in spring 2018, is 14.5 pounds and folds into a super tiny package. You’ll be amazed at how easily it folds and unfolds with just one hand so you have the other free for holding baby. Pop the folded stroller into your car trunk, or use the carry strap and sling it over your shoulder.

The seat reclines for napping on the go, there’s a large canopy with peek-a-boo window, and the large basket and parent pocket lets you bring along all your essentials. When folded, it stands upright for easy storage even in small or crowded spaces.

For babies starting at 3 months  or at birth with the company’s From Birth Kit. Available (in spring 2018) in black, charcoal, red and teal, at uppababy.com, $399-$429.

What’s your favorite stroller feature? Let us know below!

— Eva Ingvarson Cerise

Kids say the darndest things – and with these funny parents, those things immediately go on Twitter. We’ve rounded up the most hilarious 140-character quips from kid to parent. Scroll below and see how many you can relate to.

 1

2

3

https://twitter.com/ValeeGrrl/status/744582113937207297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

 

4

5

6

7

 8

https://twitter.com/MUMSIEesq/status/743815133458104324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

9

 10.

 

11.

https://twitter.com/ValeeGrrl/status/680118060263538688

 

12

 

Ready to get back into running after baby? Or looking for a way to fit in fitness now that you’re a mom? Do a little mommy multi-tasking and hit the ground running with your baby (6 months and older only please) as your passenger. We reviewed and rounded up the best jogging strollers to help make fitness fun, and most importantly, possible, again.

Best for Everyday Use

If you're an active mom-to-be looking for the one, amazing, do-it-all stroller to buy, this may be it. It's lightweight (24 lbs), built to last, car seat compatible, equipped with a large storage basket (plus water bottle pocket) and has an easy one step fold. The Speed3 steering though is what makes it stand out. Choose between a locked front wheel for serious running, a 30-degree swivel for jogging or tackling tough terrain, or a full 360-degree swivel for everyday use.

Available at bumbleride.com, $549.

Do you jog with your baby? Share your tips in the comments below.

— Julie Seguss

From the soccer carpool to the never-ending assortment of mismatched socks, sometimes there are days when you’ve only got a few seconds (or 140 characters) to get in a good giggle. Well, sit back and get ready to scroll because we’ve scoured the Twitterverse for moms and dads that rap about the highs and lows of parenting, and the results are hilarious.

1. Let’s get this over with!

2. Livin’ the life!

3. We pick our battles.

https://twitter.com/ValeeGrrl/status/766037161439354881

4. Winning!

5. Totally.

6.  Wise words

7. Totally.

8. Did you know what a kinder egg was, before kids?

9. What’s your vote?

10.*Applause from crowd*

Do you have any #funnyparenting moments to share with the Red Tricycle Community? 

From the soccer carpool to the never-ending assortment of mismatched socks, sometimes there are days when you’ve only got a few seconds (or 140 characters) to get in a good giggle. Well, sit back and get ready to scroll because we’ve scoured the Twitterverse for moms and dads that rap about the highs and lows of parenting, and the results are hilarious.

1. FREEDOM…to fall asleep on the couch in 10 minutes.

2. How dare you!

https://twitter.com/ValeeGrrl/status/762985903434395648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

3. SOOOO 1990.

4. Chug! Chug! Chug!

5. But, Speedos…

6. Yeah, Griffin!

7. Only one person can win this, and it probably ain’t you.

https://twitter.com/asheehanfittan1/status/765141507686957056

8. The hidden perks!

9. Note takin’.

10. We all do it, right?

 

Do you have any #funnyparenting moments to share with the Red Tricycle Community? Tell us in the comments below! 

 

 

 

Billing itself as the only indoor playground “where everything moves, spins, or flies,” Busy Bees is NoVa’s newest indoor escape for antsy 48”-and-under tots. Cue the happy dancing by mamas, papas, and caregivers everywhere. We get it.


So Fresh and So Clean
Located in a Falls Church strip mall adjacent to a pavilion and several lunch spots, the bright white space is largely dedicated to its pristinely-cleaned play equipment—staff uses only “naturally based” Dapple products to keep germs at bay. First-timers: anticipate spending a few minutes completing a safety waiver, and be sure that you and your child are wearing socks (there are also fun pairs for sale). Adults and children under one are free; entry for each older child is $15 and includes all-day, in-and-out privileges. For parents and caregivers looking to fill the late-afternoon witching hour, weekday admission from 4 pm-5 pm is only $10.

Choices, Choices
Features include a padded jungle gym, rotating carousel suspension swing, electric see-saw, slide, blocks and puzzles space, and merry-go-round.  The pièces de resistance, however, are the elevated, clear-bottomed trampoline and a net-enclosed balloon room. Shrieks and laughter abound.

And…Break!
Outside of the safety latch-locking half-wall surrounding the primary play space are padded stools for break time (there are a few snacks available for purchase, but outside food is also permitted) and several suspended pod swings. Cubby holes for shoes and personal belongings line the walls. Toward the back are bathrooms (ask a staff member for diapers or wipes if you forgot your stash at home) and a station with complimentary tea and coffee. There is also a party room available for rent; prices range from $220-$550. Stay tuned: The party room will soon host ballet and Music Together classes.

Busy Bees
6110 D Arlington Blvd. (Falls Church, Va)
(703) 462-9445
Online: busybeesplay.com
Open: Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, 10 am-5 pm

Have you been to Busy Bees? Tell us about your trip in the comments section!

—Katie Brown

Photos: Casey Gammon, Bluebees Photography

Now that the school year is underway you’re looking for hacks and shortcuts to help your family get back to your school year routine. In honor of #LazyMomsDay, scroll down for ideas that will save you time and headaches.

1. Hang a shoe storage unit on the back of your pantry door to organize snacks for the next week or two.

spotted at and photo: Nicole Burton

2. Not sure what to do with all of your bath toys? Hang a tiered fruit basket to your shower rod to organize toys.

spotted at and photo: Indulgy via Mommy Shorts

3. Speaking of bath time, use your laundry basket for something different than dirty clothes. Place your babe in the basket during bath time to ensure his toys don’t float away.

spotted at and photo: Buzzfeed

4. The new school year will inevitably bring new colds and sniffles. When those noses start running use a rubber band to tie together two tissue boxes. Use the empty one as a trash can.

spotted at and photo: Wide Awake via Mommy Shorts

5. Organize their school year chores with handy clothes pins and an easy chart that shows what’s done and not done like this one below.

spotted at and photo: My House and Home

6. Mommy Shorts dreamed up this cool hack that uses puppy pee pads as a painting workshop in case you don’t have newspaper.

spotted at and photo: Mommy Shorts

7. Use a LEGO guy to hold up your phone charging cord to keep it from sliding off the desk. Your little helper will be holding the cord ready and waiting for your next charge. (Bonus, it’s totally cute!)

spotted at our editor’s home, photo by Amber Guetebier

8. Use a rubberband on your bathroom doors to prevent little ones from getting locked in.

9. Create a template for the babysitter and put it in a glass frame. Use a dry-erase marker to update it for each new babysitter and/or babysitting scenario.

10. Use a disposable coffee lid or a paper cupcake sleeve to prevent popsicle messes.

Share your fave hacks below!