If there’s one event that everyone loves shopping for, it’s a baby shower. We simply don’t mind spending $15 on a pair of miniature socks because, well…they’re so darn cute! Of course, this doesn’t include the blocks, stuffed animals, books, balls, and let’s not forget

the clucking chicken pull-toy that leaves hatching chicks in it’s wake. The next thing you know, a year flies by and every corner of the house has a precarious stack of colorful junk just waiting for a bored toddler to walk over and spread it around the room. Do you want to help the parents out in a future birthday? Get the kid another electronic toy if you must, but get the parents a swoop! I think the picture above says it all.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

The Dutch Cargo bikes featured in my last post were fine for parents, but sometimes a toddler just needs to jump on that iron horse and leave the family behind. Anytime I’m looking for cool toddler gear, I go straight to my friends Bambino Goodies to see what’s

cool in the UK. They certainly didn’t disappoint because I was led to My First Bike Lock and Lil’ Giant Tricycles!

Lil’ Giant Tricycles

• Features: solid aluminum frames, steel forks with scooter-style tires, adjustable seats, gripped handlebars, wooden rear deck, bell
• Colors: Pink (seen above), Blue (seen below), or Silver
• Found at: Wiggles (UK), and ACE Bike Shop (USA)

Of course, she’ll probably want to secure her hog while wetting her whistle at the local watering hole. My First Bike Lock by Abus available in pink, blue, and green should do the trick! The locks are designed for toddlers, but they do come with keys (potential choking hazard) so be sure to supervise the tiny riders at all times.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Also see~> Flix Wooden Push Car VS Special Trike Pine,

Multi-Purpose Toddler Helmets by Nutcase,

The Chop Balance Bike by Prince Lionheart

As any parent will tell you, a toy is rarely as entertaining as the box it arrived in. Why not make the best of it with the Rolobox pull toy kit? Each kit includes four wheels, eight nuts/bolts, and a string…all that’s needed to turn your cardboard box into a pull toy. Much

like the cardboard boxes you’ll attach them to, Rolobox wheels can be used again and again. Genius!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> thanks to Bambino Goodies!

I’ve been ogling these two beautiful wooden push cars for quite a while now and I still can’t pick a favorite. I think it’s time that I step aside and let the readers vote in a no holds barred scooter battle! If you were a toddler, how would you like to roll? Would you choose:

(a) Special Trike Pine by Jules Tatum (above: $185 at Etsy) – super-thick pine body oiled with non-toxic finish, seat available in custom colors, and high-profile pinstripe wheels.

or

(b) Flix Wooden Push Car (below: $200 at Babygeared) – polished wood, mod styling, and non-marking rubber wheels for indoor/outdoor action

Both are  amazing rides, but only one can be today’s baby blog champion. If you were a toddler, how would you want to roll…by Special Trike Pine or Flix Wooden Push Car?

Keep strollin’ my friends!
Dr.MOZ

Innovations for wheelchair-bound children have been few and far between in recent years, so I was excited to see The Little Mermaid Swimming Float concept design by Soyeon Park, Taeyeong Park, and Hyeonjee Lee. The hand-wheel advances the float by shooting water

through a tube inside the body to propellers on the back. Price and distribution information won’t be available until the float is manufactured in the future, but I’ll be sure to let you know when it hits the market.

Hopefully, they’ll rethink the name before entering distribution. I’d hate to see a useful product like this crushed by Disney’s intellectual property elves over a mermaid dispute. What do you think parents? Would your toddler find a float like this useful?

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> tipped by Yanko Design

It’s hard being a little guy surrounded by older kids, but that doesn’t mean he can’t roll with the big boys. Featuring height-adjustable padded seats, rubber tires, and birch frames made from an FSC certified forest, Chop Balance Bikes by Prince Lionheart teach kids

how to balance and glide before transitioning to regular bicycles. You’ll find them priced much more reasonably than their competitors, which means you can add a 8 Ball helmet by Nutcase for safety and serious swagger at half the price!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> also see: The First Bike,

Family-Friendly Bikes by Madsen and Zigo

We’ve all seen extravagant clubhouses in catalogs, but have you ever seen a tree house that comes with the tree? The $15,575 Mackey’s Mansion Tree House (Deluxe Model) is built on top of a 6 foot-tall log with it’s own porch and door. Features for the “deluxe”

model include:

• Real oversized log (approx. 5′ dia)

• Log porch, door, and window with eave

• 5′ x 6′ oversized clubhouse floor

• Qty 4 crooked windows

• Qty 2 belt swings

• Monkey bars

• Rust accent package

• 6′ x 6′ oversized balcony floor

• Roof dormer

• Spiral turbo slide

• Staircase with landing

• 15′H x 28′W x 12′D

If you thought that was expensive, it actually gets worse. Shipping isn’t included, so you better expect to pay a pretty penny if you want a massive log, a clubhouse, a staircase, and a full-sized jungle gym shipped to your home. On a better note, a Mackey’s Mansion Tree House might be cheaper than a pony in the long run.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> also see: Dr.MOZ’s Weekend Prescription

Parents with toddlers know how a relaxing trip with the family can instantly turn into a frantic search for a public toilet. The only thing worse that sprinting around with your crying toddler under your arm…not finding the “potty” in time. Your emergency toilet searches

may be behind you (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun) thanks to Little Jack’s Box by The Brown Corporation. That’s right, the manufacturer is actually called The Brown Corporation.

Available in pink or blue, these compact cardboard boxes are designed for children 1-5 years-of-age and come equipped with 5 disposable bags and tissue. Need “to go” in a hurry? Simply unfold the box, insert the disposable bag, and let nature take it’s course. To learn more about Little Jack’s Box, drop by their blog or visit the official US or European websites.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> also see: BubbleBum: Portable Booster Seats,

The Feedaway Portable Highchair by Belkiz,

TotSeat: Portable, Washable Highchair

tip thanks to DailyCandy London

Did you hear today’s big announcement about the new high tech handheld device hitting the market? No, not the iPhone 4 announcement…I’m talking about LeapFrog’s Leapster Explorer baby! Designed for four to nine-year-old kids, the Explorer features online play

allowing for “learning app” downloads, video streaming, and the largest touch-screen offered by LeapFrog yet.

I’ll admit that the advertised “four-year-old” target seems a little young for a high-tech gadget like this, but on the other hand you might be smart to hand the little guy a $69 Explorer if it keeps him away from your new $299 (32GB) iPhone 4.  To learn more about the Leapster Explorer, visit the official product website at www.leapfrog.com/explorer.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> also see: The XO-3 Touchscreen Tablet by OPLC,

and Cell Phones for Toddlers?

include an adjustable infant seat (estimated 6-30 month-old children), padded/ergonomic straps and back support, baby gear storage, a fold-out head support, and a rain/sun cover.

Summer is here…so this is the part where you look at the functionality and fantastic Dutch design and wonder what something like this will cost right? This is where things get a little tricky. Dadanana is a new brand launched in 2006 which means distribution is limited for those in North America. I did a little digging for you and from what I can tell, your best bet for strapping-on a JoinUS carrier on anytime soon would be to visit geboortewinkel.nl of Amsterdam. You’ll need to contact the store for shipping costs, but the carrier will run approximately €139.96 ($185 US).

What do you think parents? Is the JoinUS baby backpack carrier by Dadanana something you would like to see available in the US? It looks like a sweet design perfect for hitting the trails with baby, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it sold in the states soon!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to Yanko Design!

Coming soon to a “bum” near you, the Northern Ireland based company BubbleBum has created an inflatable booster seat that is sure to be a huge hit in the US. You simply take the seat out of the easy-to-carry pouch, inflate it, and strap it through a standard

three-point adult seat belt. Not only is this a great idea for traveling, but the BubbleBum would also be an inexpensive solution for providing additional booster seats when carpooling.

Already approved for use in Europe (ECE safety info) and selling for GBP 24.99 (approximately $38.00 USD), BubbleBum is currently in negotiations for distribution in North America. Learn more at www.BubbleBum.co.uk or be one of their first followers on Twitter @bubblebumukltd!

What do you think parents? Would a BubbleBum inflatable, portable booster seat be useful to you or to the grandparents?

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> also see: TotSeat: The Portable and Washable High Chair,

Feedaway Portable High Chair, and The Flybaby Seat

> tip thanks to Springwise!

When we were kids, wearing bike helmets was still a relatively new phenomenon only practiced by those with unusually strict (read “knowledgeable”) parents. The helmets consisted of a massive white Styrofoam base, a thin plastic shell, and a useless chin strap

that was rarely latched closed. If you were really sassy, you might have a nylon cover pulled over your huge can…but I’m still not sure what the nets were for. The second you were able to tear down the street with the big boys, the helmet went straight to the curb with the training wheels.

Want to make wearing helmets fun, safe, and dare I say “cool” for your little road warriors? Let them choose their very own multi-purpose street helmets by Nutcase! Not only are they easy to size with the universal spin-dial fit system, but Nutcase has the coolest collection of helmets I’ve ever seen. Check them out today at NutcaseHelmets.com and tell them the moose sent ya!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to Swissmiss