The Best Fall Shoes for Your Toddler

by Kenzie KramerSeptember 17, 2021

Your little one is on the move, ready to explore and full of opinions. Luckily, when it comes to the kicks that’ll get them where they need to go, trusted shoe brand Stride Rite has shoes fit for every step—like the Surprize by Stride Rite collection exclusively at Target. With trendy styles, fun colors and a comfy fit, they’ll excite even the pickiest of toddlers. Plus, they’re durable, machine washable and a price you’ll love. Here are our top picks from the fall line:

Surprize by Stride Rite, Flynn, Boys’ Toddler Sneakers

These trendy sneakers have a smart secret: Even though they look like they have laces, it's actually an easy hook-and-loop closure.

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Surprize by Stride Rite, Maddox, Girls’ Toddler Sneakers

These sporty kicks come in pink and in blue so your playground explorer can show off her style.

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Surprize by Stride Rite, Nicco, Boys’ Toddler Sneakers

Cool details: Check. Memory foam insoles: Check. Machine washable: Check. These shoes are officially ready for any adventure!

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Surprize by Stride Rite, Cutler, Girls’ Toddler Sneakers

Don't let the glitz and glam fool you—the memory foam insoles in these shoes mean they're ready for all-day play.

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Surprize by Stride Rite, Revel, Girls’ Toddler Sneakers

Perfect for little explorers, these shoes have a no-slip outsole to help your little one stay on their toes.

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Surprize by Stride Rite, Mace, Boys’ Toddler Sneakers

Just in time for new adventures, these sporty shoes are durable, machine washable and have anti-microbial lining to repel yucky smells.

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Recall Alert: Johnson & Johnson Recalling 5 Lines of Aerosol Sunscreens

by Sarah ShebekJuly 19, 2021

It’s smart to be sun safe, but if you’ve been using certain sunscreens, it’s time to make a switch. Johnson & Johnson has announced it’s voluntarily recalling 14 sunscreen products from five different product lines due to the presence of benzene, a known carcinogen. All of the affected products are aerosol (spray) sunscreens.

Benzene is not an ingredient in any of the sunscreens, but it may have contaminated the products during the manufacturing process and internal testing identified low levels of the carcinogen. The following sunscreen lines are under recall:

NEUTROGENA^® Beach Defense^® aerosol sunscreen
NEUTROGENA^® Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen
NEUTROGENA^® Invisible Daily™ defense aerosol sunscreen
NEUTROGENA^® Ultra Sheer^® aerosol sunscreen
AVEENO^® Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen

If you have one or more of these products in your house, stop using them and discard. You can contact the JJCI Consumer Care Center with any questions. If you have more specific medical questions, contact your healthcare provider.

The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding spray sunscreens due to inadequate coverage and potential inhalation risks. You can find a full report from the group on safer sunscreen choices online.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Pichara Bann on Unsplash

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American Girl’s Newest Guide Has a Timely Focus On Race & Inclusion

by Sarah ShebekJune 15, 2021

What is systemic racism, or anti-racism? Tough questions that even adults can struggle to answer. American Girl has released a new advice book, A Smart Girl’s Guide: Race & Inclusion that will help readers 10 and up understand these concepts and more, plus help normalize the conversation around race.

You can buy the book online today for $12.99 and the it’s more than 100 pages, with full-color illustrations, tips, quizzes and challenges. It’s written by Deanna Singh, a highly respected thought leader and diversity and inclusion expert. Plus it benefits from expert advisors who reviewed the manuscript: Traci Baxley, Ed.D., a professor of multicultural education and curriculum and instruction at Florida Atlantic University; and Deborah Rivas-Drake, Ph.D., a professor of education and psychology at the University of Michigan, who works to disrupt racism and xenophobia.

“We’re proud to add Race & Inclusion to our popular Smart Girl’s Guide series, which has served as a trusted resource for our readers and their families for nearly three decades,” said Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “It’s our hope that the age-appropriate information and real-life guidance found in the book will be an important step for all those seeking to create a more compassionate world where everyone is treated fairly and with respect.”

Today’s release is part of American Girl’s commitment to engage more diverse voices and create new content to help advance racial equality. Among other initiatives, the brand recently launched Conversations for Change, a series that amplifies young women of various backgrounds and experiences making a difference in their communities. American Girl strives to help girls be their best and this new book will certainly make a difference!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of American Girl

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Walmart’s “Deals for Days” Event Is Coming June 20-23

by Sarah ShebekJune 7, 2021

Dueling deals! Walmart has announced Deals for Days from June 20-23, stretching one day longer than Amazon Prime Day and Target’s Deal Days. And the retailer offered a sneak peek at some of the hottest bargains that will be available.

If you’re looking to up your housecleaning game, the iHome Nova Auto Empty Mopping Robot will be half off, at $299 (originally $599). You can grab a 40 inch smart LED TV for $178 from Hisense (originally $228). And a fun tech toy for kids, the Little Tikes Tobi Robot smartwatch, will be only $24.50 (originally $49). There will be plenty of other deals on the most in-demand categories, like electronics, fashion, toys and home goods.

Walmart is also offering free same-day delivery, two-day shipping and next-day shipping. If you have a Walmart Plus membership, two days shipping is free, though the deals are open to everyone. And you’ll also be able to find deals in the store, with rollback items you can only get with in-person shopping.

Now that three of the biggest retailers have jumped into the deal day game, you’ll have plenty of options online and in person. Hot tip: start checking off some Christmas wish list items now and your December self will thank you!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Sundry Photography/ Istock

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The 6 OG American Girls Dolls Are Back & Amazing As Ever

by Sarah ShebekMay 4, 2021

If you’re a child of the ’90s, chances are you:

A. Had an original American Girl doll or
B. Desperately wanted an original American Girl doll

Whether or not you actually counted Samantha, Kirsten, Molly, Felicity, Andy or Josefina among your prized possessions, the dolls were a smash hit—and just in time for the brand’s 35th birthday, they’re coming back! The six original characters have each been released in a retro-inspired American Girl doll box, complete with the signature 18-inch doll in the original outfit with authentic accessories.

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All six are available on the American Girl website for $150 each and they even come with the original paperback books. Their stories span from 1774-1944 and teach courage, compassion, confidence and resilience. Whether you’re scooping one for yourself or your daughter, these dolls will certainly reclaim prized possession status in your home.

“For 35 years, American Girl has created powerful stories with smart, courageous heroines that have helped shape an entire generation of women,” said Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “As we celebrate this major milestone, we’re thrilled to recognize the very first generation of American girls who grew up with these beloved, original characters and made them the phenomenon they are today. Knowing many of these women are now moms themselves, we look forward to creating special, multi-generational experiences for families via their shared love of the brand.”

Last but not least, the company will partner with Save the Children’s U.S. Literacy program and donate more than $100,000 in American Girl books this summer. And there are more events and partnerships coming this summer and fall! Consider your day made.

––Sarah Shebek

All photos: Courtesy of American Girl

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Here’s How to Get $20 By Using Amazon’s In-Garage Delivery

by Erica LoopApril 29, 2021

Amazon is making it easier to get your groceries delivered! The e-tailer recently announced the expansion of Key by Amazon In-Garage Grocery Delivery to more than 5,000 cities and towns across the country.

After a trial of In-Garage Grocery Delivery that started in five cities last November, Amazon has upped the ante and given millions of Prime members the chance to use this super-simple service. Now you can get your faves from Whole Foods Market or Amazon Fresh delivered into the safety and security of your home’s garage.

photo courtesy of Amazon

Pete Gerstberger, Head of Key by Amazon, said in a press release, “Customers who tried Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery have loved the service, which is why we’re expanding it to everywhere Amazon offers grocery delivery.” Gerstberger added, “As customers look for more convenience in their daily lives, we’re excited to deliver another service that not only helps them save time, but provides peace of mind knowing that tonight’s dinner is safe in their garage and out of the weather.”

To use this convenient service, eligible Prime members can shop While Foods or Amazon Fresh online. You must have a compatible garage door opener or myQ Smart Garage Hub ($30) and the myQ app with Key. Select “Key Delivery” at checkout to complete your order.

For more info, visit Amazon here! For a limited time eligible customers can get a $20 Amazon credit after the first In-Garage delivery order.

—Erica Loop

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When You Are All Alone, Sitting in the Dark

By Vesna Mitrevska

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

March 24, 2021

Photo: Vesna Mitrevska

I’ll sit with you in the dark. Waiting for others to believe you. Waiting for insurance approvals. Waiting for evaluations. Always waiting to hear what you already know.

I’ll sit with you in the dark when you feel alone. When others tell you they’ll pray for you. When they tell you stories of how they know someone who knows someone. When they tell you that God gives special kids to special people. When they tell you, “But they’re so cute” or “They’re so smart” —like it’s a constellation prize.

I’ll sit with you in the dark when friends and family slowly drop off when things get harder. They’re “There for you” until they aren’t. Because the reality is too hard for them to grasp so it becomes only your burden to bear.

I’ll sit with you in the dark when you’re so tired of speaking and not being heard. When you repeat yourself into a void and then you’re told “You never said that.” When you cry yourself to sleep every night and no one even notices—I do, because I am you.

I’ll sit with you in the dark when other’s don’t know how dark the dark can be. When you pretend everything is fine when it’s far from it. When you fight for services. When you fight the school system. When you fight your own family who refuse to see things for what they actually are.

I’ll sit with you in the dark when the cuteness starts to wear off. When things that were shrugged off as, “All kids do that” and become, “Why does your kid do that?” I’ll sit with you in the dark when you start to drown yourself in wine and food and try to sleep as much as you can so you don’t have to think.

I know this happens. I know because it all happened to me, and I don’t want it to happen to anyone else. I’ll sit with you in the dark when the sadness of, “Why my kid?” slowly turns to the anger of, “Why not my kid?” and you realize how important inclusion and acceptance are.

You are not alone, ever, even in the dark.

Vesna Mitrevska

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Vesna is a 37 year old single mom to two little autistic boys, a pharmacist, and likes to share her love of make up in her spare time.

Brushing Goes High-Tech with Colgate’s Hum Kids

by Erica LoopFebruary 9, 2021

Forget about boring bushing! Colgate wants to make dental care fun. If your kiddos won’t brush or don’t know how to brush properly, the new hum kids by Colgate toothbrush combines dental health with augmented reality excitement.

The hum kids toothbrush syncs up to an app, turning it into an imaginative AR device. Every time your kiddo brushes, they can earn rewards, play games, and unlock new gaming levels—but that’s not all.

A colorful AR experience will guide your child through their brushing routine, using animated germs to help them care for their teeth correctly. The hum kids also comes with a parents-only dashboard. This means you can silently check-up on how often, how long, and how well your littles brush.

Bill Van de Graaf, Vice President, Marketing North America for Colgate, said, “We first introduced our hum by Colgate smart connected electric toothbrush for adults last summer that personalizes, coaches and rewards people every day when they brush their teeth.” Van de Graaf added, “hum kids also features smart connected technology that’s proven to build lifelong brushing habits, making better brushing with hum easy, fun and accessible for the whole family.”

The hum kids is a manual, replaceable smart brush that comes in yellow or coral. It features an ergonomic handle, extra-soft bristles, and a tongue cleaner. Pick up a starter kit for $14.99 at Target, Amazon, or from other retailers nationwide. After the kids wear the bristles down, you can replace the brush with a two-count pack ($3.99).

—Erica Loop

photos: Courtesy of PRNewswire

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Nanit’s New Camera & Smart Sheets Will Have You Saying “Bye-Bye” to Growth Charts

by Jen WatroFebruary 3, 2021

Trying to get a wiggly baby to be still long enough to take a measurement can be just shy of impossible. Struggle no more, because the new Nanit Smart Sheet, paired with the Nanit Pro camera, aims to solve this problem for parents. Read on to find out how this dynamic duo will have you tracking those milestones easier than ever.

How It Works

Using AI technology, parents lay their baby down on a Smart Sheet in the crib, then access the Nanit App, select the best image and mark the key measurement points on the baby. The camera processes the baby’s height in relation to the proprietary pattern printed on the sheet.

In the app, you can get baby’s real-time height measurement and can store them to track growth over time. More features including a growth chart and time-lapse video compilation will be available later in the year.

What to Buy

The Smart Sheet is actually compatible with all models of Nanit’s baby cameras, so if you’re already part of the Nanit family, you’ll be able to purchase the sheets solo for $34.99 later this month. If you’re new to Nanit, the brand new Nanit Pro has a sleek design & includes enhancements for clearer day & night vision, a small breathing band to track your baby’s breathing motion, faster processing and higher quality sound including for two-way talk, real-time sound notifications and a variety of white noise/background audio.

The Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System bundle starts at $379, will include a new Nanit Pro camera and one Smart Sheet that gives parents the ability to measure their baby’s height and growth through the camera and associated app.

These new products are currently available for pre-order on Nanit.com and will launch later this month at retailers including Amazon, Target & buybuy Baby.

––Jen Watro

All photos: Courtesy of Nanit

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Feed Their Belly (& Their Minds) with Cerebelly’s Newest Snack

by Erin LemFebruary 2, 2021

You’re used to dishing out snacks to feed those hungry bellies, but what if those snacks also fed and helped develop your kiddo’s mind at the same time? Cerebelly does just that. They are the first children’s food brand on the market that leverages developmental neuroscience to offer products with brain-supporting nutrients. We’re obsessed with their Smart Bars released last Ocotber and veggie-first pouches, and are eagerly awaiting their newest product: smoothie-inspired pouches. Read on to discover why savvy parents are excited about this new product.

Cerebelly is teaming up once again with Peppa Pig and this time they’re offering smoothie-inspired flavors for their newest product release. The brand tells us that like their original collection, this new product will also be veggie-first (versus fruit-first) to ensure kids are getting all superior ingredients in a delicious and naturally sweet way.

The veggie-first smoothie-inspired pouches will come in three new flavors: celery apple kiwi, purple carrot blueberry and sweet potato peach. Sip them straight from the pouch or serve on a spoon (we personally love mixing the original flavors with greek yogurt for breakfast).

As busy parents, we adore Cerebelly. While we’re not pediatric nutritionists, we’ve tried a lot of different kids snacks and found that Cerebelly’s pouches and smart bars have some of the lowest amounts of sugar we’ve seen. And, they’re delicious to boot (yes, we’ve tried them ourselves!).

We love that their pouches are veggie-first and that the ingredients are specifically tailored to your child’s development. When you sign onto the Cerebelly site, you’ll take a short quiz that asks what milestones your child has reached and then they’ll provide suggestions about what flavor combos are best for your kid at that moment in her brain development. They’re all about providing the right nutrients at the right time.

Find the new collection on cerebelly.com or at Whole Foods markets starting February 16, 2021. Cerebelly will donate 20% of each product run to Baby2Baby.

—Erin Lem

photos: Cerebelly

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The Best Fall Shoes for Your Toddler

Surprize by Stride Rite, Flynn, Boys’ Toddler Sneakers

Surprize by Stride Rite, Maddox, Girls’ Toddler Sneakers

Surprize by Stride Rite, Nicco, Boys’ Toddler Sneakers

Surprize by Stride Rite, Cutler, Girls’ Toddler Sneakers

Surprize by Stride Rite, Revel, Girls’ Toddler Sneakers

Surprize by Stride Rite, Mace, Boys’ Toddler Sneakers

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