These shoes look like they were designed by a three-year-old. Which is very cool, because they were!

Back in June I took a look at the new Vans custom shoe creator. And while I really liked the available options, I was a bit disappointed by the 5-7 week delivery window. But since Vans had kindly provided the shoes, I took my chances and ordered a full size up for my three-year-old daughter.

The shoes arrived just under five weeks after I placed the order. Of course, I was a bit too optimistic in my estimation of how much my daughter would grow in that time and the shoes are still too large for my daughter, but that’s certainly not Vans fault.

The quality of the shoes is excellent and seems identical to off-the-shelf Vans. The colors and fabrics match what we saw on the website during the design process and the seams and gluing are fine, with no loose edges or threads.

Unfortunately, because of my size-guessing failure, I’m unable to comment on their durability. However, I can comment on showing a preschooler the real shoes that she designed on a computer: It was awesome! She was extremely excited and can’t wait to show her friends when she grows into them. Is that worth the premium price of the custom vans? I would say so.

I’m still not fond of the 5-7 week estimated shipping time, but all in all, we had a lot of fun playing with the custom shoe designer and the end result met our expectations. If you’re looking for a cool pair of shoes, and don’t mind the wait, check out shop.vans.com.

Ok, enough 80’s references. Today Vans bills itself as the “original skate shoe manufacturer since 1966″ and designs products for and supports action sports including skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing and BMX.  And while the company appears to have offered custom shoes at retail locations from the beginning, now anybody can order them via the Vans website.

We jumped at the opportunity to look at the shoes because:

1. I was curious to see what my 3-year-old would create
2. Creating custom anything on the web appeals to the geek in me
3. My daughter goes through shoes faster than anyone I’ve ever seen

We started our shoes by selecting one of three styles at shop.vans.com/custom:

• Era -  $60
• Slip-On – $45-60
• Old Skool – $70

All are available in sizes for men, women and boys, but only the Slip-On is available in youth and toddler sizes, so that’s the one we chose.

After selecting a style, you start your design with a solid black or white shoe or one of a variety of pre-existing designs. Once you’ve selected your starting point, you can mix and match options for the following:

• Top, Side and heel(48 solids/patterns each)
• Vamp binding (20 colors)
• Foxing (black or white)
• Foxing stripe (20 colors)
• Elastic gore (black or white)
• Collar lining (black or white)

Don’t worry if those names don’t mean anything to you. The image of the shoe updates as you hold your mouse over each option so you can easily see how your choices will look before selecting them. You can also view your shoe from the side, top and back. Finally, you can change your choices at any time, even after you’ve added your custom shoes to the cart. This last bit is a particularly nice feature if you (or your child) change your mind just before ordering.

My daughter and I had a blast playing with the shoe designer. We spent a lot of time mixing the patterns to create some very, umm, “original” footwear. But the folks at Vans wanted us to check not only the shoe designer but also the shoes, so we settled down to design something my daughter would actually wear. Her favorite color is pink, so her first creation was a solid pink shoe. It may have been a “custom” pink shoe, but it was still just a pink shoe.  After playing around a bit we swapped out some of the pink for some purple and added a star pattern and we were set.

And that’s where we hit our only snag: Our new shoes were listed as “available in 5-7 weeks.” This seemed to be the case for all the shoes we tried to create.  In today’s “get it now” world, 5-7 weeks seems like an eternity. In a toddler’s world, it could mean a completely different shoe size. I’m not sure if this is the normal time for custom Vans, or if it’s because this is a new service, but it’s definitely something to be aware of if you’re ordering your custom shoes as a gift.

After taking a gamble on ordering a full size larger we gave the shoe one last look and submitted the order.

Overall the process was simple and we had a great time playing with the shoe designer. I would have liked the ability to upload images or pictures to print on the shoes, but there are still lots of options to mix and match. The custom shoes are more expensive than the retail Vans ($45 vs. $27 for the toddler Slip-Ons), but I could see these being a great gift not only for kids who already like Vans, but also those who want to express their creativity. Plus, there’s no Spicoli. But then again, you have to bring your own pizza.

We’ll be reviewing the shoes themselves once they arrive, so stay tuned.

Actually, let me clarify that: I don’t have a problem with flying, but I really don’t like airlines or airports. After frequent trips, I’ve learned to expect things to go wrong and try to do everything to reduce the hassles caused by the inevitable delays and cancellations. For example, thanks to my wife, we now pack a change of clothes for everyone and enough books and toys to keep our daughter busy, no matter how short the trip is supposed to be.

But you don’t think about some things until after they happen. For example, a few years ago United Airlines lost our car seat and stranded us at the airport with no safe way to get our 21-month-old to our destination. Although we were able to get her to our relatives and eventually got the car seat back, we swore we would do everything possible to avoid letting that happen again. Unfortunately, it seemed that this meant taking the car seat on board with us on all future trips. Not a big deal, but I wasn’t looking forward to moving between gates with carry-ons, a toddler AND a car seat. Plus some car seats won’t fit some plane seats, or even being allowed aboard by some flight attendants, something you typically won’t find out until you’re boarding.

But then we found CARES. To put it simply, this is the harness of your car seat, without the actual car seat.* Made of the same material used in seat belts, the harness weighs about 1 lb. and stores neatly in its own carrying pouch. See that picture to the left? That’s CARES in its storage pouch sitting in my daughter’s regular car seat. Which one would you want to carry through an airport?

CARES is FAA-approved for children over one-year-old and 22-42 lbs. and shouldn’t require special documentation to use on US flights (see the CARES website, www.kidsflysafe.com, for international information). But if you’re nervous, the CARES website  also includes links to FAA documents you can print out just in case. Before our trip I also printed the relevant pages from our airline’s website and highlighted the parts that mentioned CARES  to cover all the bases. See, I told you I didn’t like airlines.

Before our trip we watched the instructional DVD and practiced putting CARES on a chair. Installation is simple: you slide a loop around the back of the seat, tighten it, and run the seat’s lap belt through the bottom loops on the CARES belts. That’s it! Once everything is in place, you have a nice 4-point harness.** It takes just a few minutes, but I recommend trying it a few times at home so you know what to expect before you board the plane.

After four flights I can definitely say that CARES is awesome! Yes we had to arrange for a car seat at our destination, but it was worth it to avoid lugging a car seat around the airport. Plus our daughter loved having her own “special” seat, and stayed happily buckled-in except when we she stretched out to snuggle against us while sleeping.

We had no trouble using it on the planes and the only questions we fielded were from other passengers curious about CARES. This must be a common occurrence as the CARES package includes several small information cards you can hand out.

On most planes, the CARES belt fits underneath the tray table of the seat behind you. However, on some you’ll need to run the belt over the seat tray which prevents its use. The DVD mentioned this and we did come have a few flights with this issue. In each case,  we just asked the person behind us to tell us when he wanted to open the tray so we could loosen the belt a bit. However even if the person behind you isn’t cooperative, you should still be able to use the CARES during takeoff and landing when seat trays are required to be closed.

At $75 (plus the costs of purchasing/renting a car seat at your destination), CARES is expensive, but it’s worth it if you frequently travel with your children. You can also find people renting CARES on eBay for around $14 for a few weeks. This is another option, but not one I’d recommend unless you’re very comfortable with the person from whom you’re renting.

**Unlike a typical car seat, CARES doesn’t have an anchor between your child’s legs. While not a safety issue on planes, it does mean that your child can slip out from underneath the harness if she tries and could be an issue if your child squirms around a lot.

At first glance the Fortamajig doesn’t look like much more than an 8′ square piece of lightweight, ripstop nylon and while that’s accurate,  this is definitely a case of less being more. Arranged around the Fortamajig’s outer edges are 24 adjustable Velcro loops so you can easily attach it to just about anything. An additional 9 Velcro loops on the surface further extend the attachment options. Velcro not long enough to fit your plans? No problem! Just connect one or more of the six additional Velcro straps where you need them. Unlike blankets, the lightweight Fortamajig is easily supported so it can span longer distances without drooping. There’s also a door and a window, both with Velcro to keep them closed if  they don’t fit your design. And because it’s made from the same material used to make tents, it’s also durable enough to be used outside. Check out the Fortamajig gallery for examples of both indoor and outdoor forts.

My daughter and I decided to try the Fortamajig out in the dining room. This idea wasn’t met with much enthusiasm from my wife, but when she saw that the Fortamajig was so light (under 2lbs) that it wouldn’t pull down the chairs she gave us her reluctant blessing and we proceeded to create a variety of tunnels, forts and caves. Fortunately, my wife wasn’t around when my daughter decided to climb the fort’s roof, pulling some of the chairs down to the floor. Luckily no toddlers or chairs were harmed and we simply adjusted our design and continued playing. When we were finished, we just disconnected the Velcro, stuffed the Fortamajig back into its bag and put the chairs back under the table.

The Fortamajig is available in two models, a $70 single layer and a $90 reversible dual-layer. Both come in a variety of colors. The Happy Kid Company also sells the $90 Fortamajig Connectables, a set of eight panels with Velcro connectors that can be used on their own or along with the Fortamajig (buying them together will save you $20). Yes, the Fortamajig is more expensive than a blanket, but comparing the two is like comparing a Leatherman Tool to a butter knife. The Fortamajig’s durability and flexible design allow it to do so much more than a blanket and also make it more likely to engage your child’s imagination. That’s definitely worth at least $70.

About a year and a half ago my husband and I talked about how we could probably get our daughter potty trained within the first few months of turning two. To that end, we’ve had the Boon Potty Bench in our bathroom for probably close to a year. I think somehow we thought exposure to a potty chair at 1 3/4 years would pique her interest and thus magically lead to a potty trained child. I’ve since come down off that cloud and understand that she will be potty trained when she wants to be potty trained and I’m okay with that. I can’t bring myself to put her on the potty every 30 minutes, have her run around naked, or let her wet herself to prove some kind of point to her (she still thinks it’s fun to rub yogurt all over her face!). Besides, who is really being trained when I do that anyway?  So we have decided that three is a good age to really start potty training in the official sense. While there are tons of differing opinions on this topic, this is what we are comfortable with.

So while the formal potty training has yet to be implemented, we have introduced the potty to our now 2 3/4 year-old daughter and she uses it “as the spirit moves her.” During this phase we’ve found the Boon Potty Bench very useful for a couple different reasons.

First, when the lid is closed, it serves as a bench so kids can use it to stand up at the sink. Ours is placed at the end of the bathroom cabinet so she can stand on it to brush her teeth or just hang out with us.

Second, as a potty it’s simple but functional. The height seems comfortable for her and she’s able to get on and off easily. It’s also very stable, so if she moves around at all it can’t fall over. But perhaps best of all, it’s simple to clean with a “drawer” that pulls out and can be emptied and rinsed out easily. There are also two storage compartments, one with a toilette paper holder.

But recently I found another reason why I love this potty bench. It doesn’t have the distractions that appear on other potties. While visiting Grandpa’s this past Thanksgiving, my daughter used a potty chair that had all sorts of bells and whistles (literally). While my daughter sat on this potty a few times, she never used it for its intended purpose. Instead, she just played with it. She would “flush” the toilet over and over to make it say “You flushed the potty!”  She also enjoyed spinning the “toilet paper” lever, causing it to sing out praises for that as well. I don’t know about you, but these are things we are trying to discourage at our house. I can appreciate positive messages that encourage a child when they are successful, but there is a limit. Besides, I think my husband and I can out-sing and out-praise a potty chair any day.

Overall these potty toys, as I call them, probably won’t cause irreparable harm. But if you’re looking for something functional and simple, I would definitely recommend the Boon Potty Bench. It—and a lot of patience—should get your through your potty-training!

But these toddler traits aren’t a problem for the $40 VTech Kidizoom digital camera. Available in blue or pink, this toddler-tough camera features a two-handed design with non-slip handles to help children hold it properly. The handles also seem to help cushion the camera during the inevitable drops. Although our first sample stopped working (ironically while I was the one using it), the second one has taken a beating and continues to work fine. Included with the camera are a USB cord, audio/video cable for connecting the camera to a TV, software CD (Windows only), wrist strap, two interchangeable faceplates and a manual. The camera can be connected to a PC or a Mac, but only comes with Windows photo software.

After popping in 4 AA batteries and taking a quick look at the menus, I handed the camera over to my daughter. With a little bit of guidance she was able to begin taking pictures. And although the binocular eyepieces may be easier-to-use than a standard viewfinder, she preferred to use the 1.8″ LCD screen on the back.

A joystick on the back is used to navigate the simple menus after clicking the “Mode” button. However, moving the joystick without first pressing the button either browses previous images (up/down) or cycles through cartoon graphics that can be added to the image (left/right). This is a great idea, but the joystick is a bit too easy to hit by mistake and many of our first pictures had a cartoon Viking helmet in the middle of them because our daughter accidentally hit the joystick just before taking a picture.

Photo Quality

Photos taken with the Kidizoom will never be confused with those take with a more advanced digital camera. The Kidizoom doesn’t perform well in low light and is susceptible to motion in all but the brightest light. This leads toward “blotchy” or blurred photos in many cases. However, given the $40 price, I can’t fault the quality of the Kidizoom’s pictures too much. Still it’s something you may want to consider before purchasing. I’ve posted a collection of my daughter’s photos on Flickr to give you an idea of the Kidizoom’s image quality (as well as the things a toddler considers worth photographing). VTech also has a gallery of customer photos on their site.

Ironically, the weaknesses of the Kidizoom may actually help your child take better pictures as she gets used to working around them. In the last two months I’ve noticed that my daughter is choosier about her subjects and seems to bet getting the hang of holding still after she presses the shutter button. Both of these skills will serve her well when she is ready for her next digital camera.

Additional Features
The Kidizoom camera includes several features that will interest older children, including:

• Photo Workshop: As I mentioned earlier, the Kidizoom only includes Windows software. However, the camera’s built-in Photo Workshop allows you to add frames and stamps to your images, duplicating much of the software’s basic features. You can also add animations or voice memos (up to 10-seconds) to photos, but the animations can’t be saved and voice memos can only be played by going back into the Photo Workshop.
• Games: 3 simple games (Tic Tac Toe, Matching Pairs and Rotation Puzzle) are accessible from the camera’s menu.

While neither of these features is reason to buy the Kidizoom, they do add value to the camera. There’s also the movie mode I mentioned earlier. Although the movies are noticeably low quality, this is a nice bonus and a feature that appears unavailable on other toddler cameras.

Software
The camera comes with VTech Photo Editor, a Windows-only program that is an expanded version of the built-in photo tools. The software includes a larger selection of stamps and frames and the program can be used with any BMP or JPG file, not just those taken with the Kidizoom camera. The software can also increase the resolution of the Kidizoom images to 2.0 Megapixels, but don’t expect any drastic improvement in image quality.

Conclusion
The rugged Kidizoom is a great first camera for toddlers who are old enough to be interested in taking pictures, but still not ready for a “grown-up” camera. As long as you don’t expect the same photo quality you would get from a $100+ digital camera, it’s a great deal, particularly when you consider the fun you’ll have seeing the world through your child’s eyes.

McCarthy writes about her experiences starting from the decision to have a baby, through the birth itself.  Her insights not only struck a cord with me as I recalled my own experiences, but also cracked me up.  Soon-to-be moms or new moms will find solace in McCarthy’s honest interpretations of what a real woman experiences in pregnancy, birth and new mommy-ness.  What to Expect it is not (she even has a disclaimer), but sometimes the best medicine you can get when you’re struggling with change (and boy do babies put you through the change wringer!!) is to hear someone’s not so perfect stories and impressions of child rearing.  Don’t get me wrong, McCarthy is clearly a loving, wonderful Mommy—but she’s real, and that makes her advice more credible to me in some ways.

McCarthy’s isn’t the only book of this kind.  It falls into the same category as The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine or Jenny McCarthy’s Belly Laughs (and yes the similar names struck me as quite the coincidence as well).  I will suggest The Parent Trip to friends and colleagues who will appreciate this genre and McCarthy’s wit and wisdom.  Now, if only she would write a sequel about living with a toddler!

Actually, let me clarify that: I hate removing outlet covers.  And while it’s not something you need to do every day, there’s one chore that always seems to involve removing at least one cover: vacuuming.

In our household, I’m typically the one who vacuums. And by that I mean that I’m the one who helps our daughter push the vacuum along the floor until I can distract her with the dustbuster long enough for me to actually clean the carpets. This also means that I’m the one who has to remove the outlet covers.  I don’t have long fingernails, so I usually use whatever is handy to pry the cover off. I’ve been known to use the vacuum plug, a screwdriver, a pen, and even an emery board (don’t tell my wife about that one). They all worked, but none were as easy to use as the WedgEZ. Ok, I know you thought of grade school pranks when you read that, and maybe milk even sprayed out of your nose. But this isn’t that wedgie.

WedgEZ is a simple tool that does one thing and does it really well: remove outlet covers (What, you thought I was going to say it did something else?). Available from www.wedgez.com for only $3.99 (3 for $9.99) plus shipping and handling, this hook-shaped piece of plastic pops outlet covers off quickly and easily. You just insert the tip behind the plug, rock the WedgEZ toward the wall, and the plug slides out without any bent plugs, dented walls or swearing. The WedgEZ even has clips to attach it to your vacuum’s cord so it’s always right where you need it. It’s even covered by a 100% replacement guarantee if it breaks.

I’m not sure how much emery boards costs, but I’m betting it wouldn’t take ruining too many of them to justify buying a WedgEZ. Now if only it had a feature to keep me from losing the outlet covers once I took them off…

These unique lights won’t provide the same illumination as a traditional flashlight, but their rounded, “MSN chat guy-like” plastic bodies allow them to glow with a soft, even light that is comforting in a dark room and enough to light up a nighttime bathroom trip. And thanks to internal LEDs, they remain cool to the touch and can be used safely in and around the bed at nighttime.

TykeLight GloMate
The $20 TykeLight GloMate is powered by an internal rechargeable battery. Each milky white GloMate comes with a saucer-shaped stand that charges him when he is place on top of it. Lifting the GloMate from the stand turns him on and the light from the internal LEDs is spread out evenly by the white body. Additionally, if the power goes out while the GloMate is on the base, he’ll turn on automatically as well.

If that was all the GloMate did, it would be a great product. But there’s also a small button on the bottom that changes the GloMate’s color. You can select a 15-minute blue fade or a solid blue, pink or green that remains on until the charge is gone (up to 10-hours per Mobi) or the GlowMate is turned off. In addition to the solid colors, there’s also a rainbow setting that rotates through the colors, gradually fading from one to another. This last setting is neat and reminded me of the soothing effect of lava lamps.

TykeLight Jr.
Like the GloMate, the $10 TykeLight Jr. glows with a soft even light. However, the TykeLight is powered by 3 AAA batteries instead of the GloMate’s rechargeable battery.

The TykeLight Jr. is available in blue, pink or green and the color is determined by the TykeLight Jr.’s plastic body, not the lights inside, so there’s no color-changing feature.  Three power choices (high, low and 15-minute fade) are set by a button on the bottom. The harder plastic body and the AAA batteries (enough for nearly 75-hours of light) make the TykeLight Jr. a good choice for traveling.

Conclusion

While both lights would be a great nighttime addition to a child’s room, I did like the GloMate more. The color-changing feature was a big hit with my daughter and the GloMate’s plastic body was a bit softer than that of the TykeLight Jr. But as much as I like the GloMate, I do have two minor quibbles with it. First, each time you lift it from the stand, the GlowMate resets to the default blue 15-minute fade. Sure it’s easy to tap the button a few times to get to the setting you want, but I wish it would remember the last one I used.

Second, I would really like to be able to use the 15-minute fade with something other than blue. This seems like an easy feature to implement, so perhaps it will be added to future versions. But for now, if your child likes green or pink save yourself some money and get the cheaper TykeLight Jr. However, if blue is your child’s favorite color, get the GloMate. The additional colors, rainbow mode, and rechargeable batteries are definitely worth the extra $10.

Anyway, I’ve been using “a first-in, last-out” approach to getting my daughter into the car: I buckle her into her seat before loading anything else when we set out and upon arrival, everything else is unloaded before she gets out.  Generally, this works well and ensures that she’s either with me or buckled into her seat. However, there are times when I have to let go of her hand to set something down or open the car door. Whenever possible, I shield her between the car door and my body, but when that’s not possible I have her “touch the tire” for the few seconds I need to get things settled before putting her in the car.  I know, I know: the tire’s not the cleanest part of the car, but my daughter knows what it is and understands that she’s not supposed to move her hand from it until I tell her it’s ok.

However, I just learned about Parking Pal, a CD-sized magnet that serves the same purpose as my method, but in a manner that’s easier for kids to understand. And it goes without saying that the magnet should be a lot cleaner than my car’s tires.

The Parking Pal is available in several colorful designs featuring dinosaurs, flowers, fish and more. In the center of each Parking Pal is a bright handprint to show your child exactly where to put her hand, a definite improvement over my system (”but dad, you didn’t say which part of the tire!”). Made of heavy material, the magnets are durable, wipe clean and, although they’re easily removed, fasten securely to your car. That last feature is important if you’re like me and forget to take the Parking Pal off the car before hitting the highway.

Sure, you could use any one of the ribbon auto magnets sold in stores, but why not spend the $8 and pick up something that appeals to your child. Actually, for that price, why not pick up one for all your family’s cars?

As an added bonus, now instead of “touching the tire,” my daughter knows to “give the car five!”

First Impressions
Picture your average remote: it’s probably black or silver and has a ton of little buttons on it, right? Ok, the weemote DV looks nothing like that. Instead, like the weemote 3, it features a colorful, rounded body and brightly colored buttons. However, it also has a soft rubber ring around its edge that makes it easy to grasp. Finally, there are only nine buttons (Play, Pause, Stop, Ok, Up, Down, Left, Right and (M)enu) on the weemote DV. Removing a screw on the bottom allows you to change batteries and access the three programming buttons.

Setup
Setting up the weemote DV is very simple. Just find your DVD player manufacturer in the instruction manual and enter the matching codes until you find the one that controls your player. If for some reason, you can’t find one that works, don’t worry: unlike the weemote 3, the weemote DV is a true learning remote so you can use your current remote to teach the weemote DV commands for any of its nine buttons. The learning feature also lets you use the weemote DV with devices other than DVD players. For example, you could program it to control a CD player and use the “Up” and “Down” keys for volume.

Testing
I tested the remote with our Sony DVD player. Unfortunately, the first weemote DV we received had a defective LED, making it impossible to program the remote using the codes from the manual. A quick e-mail to Fobis Technologies and a new remote was on the way. In the meantime I was able to use the learning feature (which uses a different LED) to program the weemote using my original Sony remote control. Programming was done by pointing the remotes at each other and following a simple sequence for each button.

Once programmed, the weemote DV worked perfectly. I didn’t notice any difference in performance between it, the factory remote, or our much more expensive universal remote. Next I reprogrammed the remote to work with our cable box and it did a great job controlling on-demand titles or programs recorded with the built-in DVR. However, this setup permitted access to all the cable channels, so I’d still recommend the weemote 3 for TV viewing.

After receiving the replacement remote, I entered the DVD player code from the manual and tried the tests again. This was easier than using the learning feature and I would recommend using this method first as there’s no difference in the weemote DV’s performance when it is programmed using the provided codes versus learning from the original remote.

But how did the weemote DV do with its target audience? My two-year-old took to the weemote DV as quickly as she did the weemote 3. However, because the weemote DV’s buttons send a single command rather than the macros used on some of the weemote 3 buttons, she was able to use it more effectively without having to keep it pointed at the DVD player after each button was released. Finally, she ran the remote through her battery of “drop and step” tests and it handled them all without problem. The weemote DV’s rubber ring seemed to make it easier for her to hold and may have provided a bit of cushioning during the drop tests (I would love to see a similar feature added to the weemote 3).

Once again, my daughter’s testing also pointed out a way to improve the way I had programmed the weemote DV. This time it was the “Stop” button that was causing trouble because it took her out of the DVD menus, requiring me to press “Play” or “Enter” to restart the disc and sit through the FBI warning before I could get her back to her movie. Disabling this button kept her within the DVD menu structure.

Final Thoughts
The weemote DV, like the weemote 3, is a welcome addition to the family room, particularly given it’s $25 suggested price. More and more children’s DVDs are including interactive games and puzzles and this remote is a great way to let your children control their discs without overwhelming them with complex remotes or risking them accidentally changing your player’s settings. And although it really shines with a DVD player, as long as you only need nine buttons, it should work well with other remote-controlled electronics.

I asked that question about a year ago in a post titled “Say Hello to Generation We.” What I didn’t know then was that it wouldn’t be the TV she was going to be interested in this early, but the remote itself. Since writing that my daughter has developed a keen interest in “daddy’s remote,” a.k.a our universal remote. We tried giving her the remote from an old VCR, but she wasn’t fooled.

Fortunately, Fobis Technologies has solutions for parents looking to give their children a level of control, but still keep them, and your AV equipment, safe. In this post we’ll look at the weemote 3 which can simplify control of a TV and set-top box (cable or satellite). Fobis also sells the weemote Sr. which is functionally identical to the weemote, but features a more sedated color scheme and some tweaks to the default settings to make it friendlier for seniors. We’ll review the weemote dV, which controls DVRs and DVD players, in an upcoming post.

First Impressions

At first glance the weemote looks like a toy, but I mean that in a good way. The rounded shape and bright colors wouldn’t look out of place in a Fisher-Price catalog. And like most toys, the weemote can stand up to the abuse that kids can dish out. During our review it survived being stepped on, dropped onto hardwood floors, and even being licked. Needless to say, I wasn’t willing to subject “daddy’s remote” to those tests. And I certainly wouldn’t recommend trying the last one on any remote.

Ten bright buttons (Mute, Power, Volume Up/Down, Channel Up/Down, and five “Favorite Buttons”) and an LED poke through the weemote’s shell. The Favorite Buttons are each shaped differently (a square, triangle, pentagon, circle, and star) to allow younger children to use the remote, e.g. “press the star to watch Disney”. At the bottom of the remote is a plastic door that protects the six programming buttons.

Basic Setup

Like other aftermarket remotes, the weemote must be programmed to control your TV and, if you have one, set-top box. This is done by entering a code or two from the Quickstart booklet. I had to try a couple different codes for our Sony TV, but our Comcast cable box worked on the first code. Once this is done, you enter up to ten favorite channels. The first five will be accessed using the weemote’s Favorite Buttons and the second will be accessible using the channel up/down buttons.

One important thing to note: If the device you use to change channels (TV or set-top box) is not listed in the Quickstart booklet, you will not be able to use the weemote to change channels, greatly reducing it’s usefulness. Fortunately, the weemote is pre-programmed with codes for a wide range of products. However, you may want to check the list in the booklet (available online) if you’re using unusual equipment.

Advanced Setup

Here’s where I get to geek out a bit. As I mentioned, the weemote is very easy to set up, but beneath that bight plastic are a powerful set of options that can help you tweak the way it works to fine tune it to your preferences. For example, you can do any (or all) of the following:

• Disable volume controls
• Limit channel up/down to favorite channels or allow it to access all available channels
• Tune to Favorite Channel #1 at start up
• Auto-program children’s channels for users with DIRECTV Total Choice or Total Choice Plus
• Adjust the speed of the remote signals
• Adjust the delay of the keypad
• Adjust power options (disable/enable TV and/or cable/satellite box power)
• Select a TV input to tune to at start up (limited)
• Learn commands from your existing remote(s) to the Mute, Volume/Up Down, and Favorite Channel buttons

Testing

In our home, all audio and video goes into our receiver and then to the TV. This means we have to use our universal remote to turn everything on and select the proper input on the receiver. This is something the weemote can’t do, and honestly wasn’t designed to do. Because of this, my wife or I will turn on the TV, set the volume, and then let our daughter control the channels using the weemote. So, our weemote was programmed as follows:

• Power – Disabled
• Volume – Disabled*
• Channel Up/Down – Favorites Only
• Fav. Buttons 1-5 were each programmed with a kid-friendly channel

*I did use the learning feature to have the weemote control the receiver’s volume, but I disabled this feature before handing the remote over to my daughter. This proved wise as she is a big fan of the volume button. With it disabled, I don’t have to worry about her damaging her hearing (or the speakers).

Changing channels was just as fast as entering the numbers on the original remote. I flipped between the channels a bit and then handed the remote to our daughter. She quickly mashed the buttons and managed to change the channel several times before stopping on a show she recognized (and giving the weemote the previously mentioned “lick” test). Ok, not the most scientific of tests, but the weemote did what it was supposed to do. And she did find one issue: Like all infrared remotes, the weemote must be pointed at the TV or set-top box to control it. This may seem obvious, but when sending a series of commands (e.g. 2-1-8 for channel 218) with a single button press, the weemote must be aimed correctly until the last signal is received, not just until the button is released. This means that it’s possible for partial commands to be received, for example “2-1″ instead of “2-1-8.” This isn’t a flaw with the weemote, and is something that also affects our much more expensive universal remote. It didn’t happen too often though, and should be less of an issue with a bit of practice

Conclusion

The weemote delivers on the company’s promise to make “TV safer for your kids.” But if this was all it did, I wouldn’t recommend it. Most set-top boxes accomplish the same thing by allowing you to set access codes for specific channels and/or program ratings. The weemote is not a substitute for these features. In fact, your children can always bypass the weemote’s pre-defined channels by using the buttons on your set-top box or TV to change channels. Enabling your set-top box’s access controls will prevent your children from viewing channels and programs you consider inappropriate, no matter which remote you use.

I also wouldn’t recommend the weemote if all it did was eliminate the remote clutter in your living room. Cable and satellite service generally includes a remote that does this quite well. Local stores also carry a wide range of aftermarket universal remotes that do the same thing.

What sets the weemote apart from the other solutions is that it makes TV safer by not only limiting the channels, but also by greatly simplifying the remote itself. This means that not only can your kids not get to unapproved channels using the weemote, but they also can’t accidentally purchase a pay-per-view title or change your TV’s setup menus to a foreign language (am I the only one who has had this happen?). Add a durable, kid-friendly design to the package and the weemote is definitely a winner.

I’ll admit at first I didn’t think this simple plastic container would be that useful. But then I gave it a try when my daughter and I went shopping. But after snapping it into place on the cart handle, I realized how great this product was really going to be. I don’t know how many times I’ve been trying to move quickly through the shopping aisles while trying to fish crackers out of a crumpled bag for my daughter. With this secure tray, both she and I are happier. This is brilliant! And at $6.99 (or $11.99 for two), it’s a steal. I would definitely recommend it!

OnTray

However, before you read further, do me a favor: go take a look at your tub’s faucet. And be sure to run your finger along the underside. No really, I’ll wait…

Welcome back. Now imagine your child banging her head against that faucet. Scary thought, huh? It only takes a second for a child to slip in a tub and that faucet is in the perfect place to catch them on the way down or, even worse, with the sharp underside on the way up. And that’s why you need a faucet cover. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Flo or another cover, just get one.

Ok, now back to Flo…

Besides a futuristic appearance, what else does it offer? Like other faucet covers, Flo helps protect your child by wrapping the metal faucet in soft plastic and foam. And Flo’s “donut” design should allow it to work with a wide range of faucets. But Flo doesn’t stop there. There’s also a built-in bubble bath dispenser: Just fill it with your child’s favorite bubble bath and release some with a press of the front button. However, my favorite feature is the way Flo’s front edge diverts the water out and away from the faucet. Opening the faucet fully sends water cascading almost a foot out from Flo in a large, gentle fan. Our daughter loves this and, in theory, it should make it easier to rinse her hair. In reality, we still have to use a cup most of the time because she enjoys ducking her head under the cascading water at the start of her bath rather than after we shampoo her hair. Of course, that’s not really Flo’s fault.

But I do have some quibbles about Flo. First, the bubble bath dispenser doesn’t always close completely. It never stayed open enough to drain the liquid reservoir, but it was enough to leave a small puddle of bubble bath on the water diverter each morning. My wife and I found that jiggling the dispenser button at the end of each bath did seem to help seal the opening. Second, Flo traps water inside its body, creating a potential home for mildew and, once it’s stained, the soft foam doesn’t come clean. However, removing Flo from the faucet every few days to allow it to dry thoroughly should reduce the likelihood of mildew.

Still, these minor issues don’t stop me from recommending Flo. The water diverter alone is worth the $15 price. Plus, if you look around, you can find Flo as part of the Frog Pod Bonus pack which also includes the Frog Pod and a set of Boon Bath Goods (“a collection of fifteen bath appliqués, three balls, and two mini-scrubbies”) for about the price you’d pay for the Frog Pod and Flo separately.

Digital music is here to stay. iPods other MP3 players have made it easier than ever to listen to, and share, our favorite music. And who better to share music (or “mew-ic” as our daughter calls it) with than our children.

In the latest SNHParents article, Kid-Friendly MP3 Players, I take a look at three childrens’ MP3 players (the PLAYSKOOL Made for Me Digital Music Player, the Fisher-Price Kid Tough FP3 Player, and the SanDisk Sansa Shaker) to see if they are truly kid-friendly. Although each is designed for a different age-group, they all offer features that kids, and parents, should enjoy. I also look at a set of volume-limiting earbuds that work with most audio players and could help put an end to the “turn it down or you’ll ruin your ears” arguments.

The first set of adhesive lasted just about a year, but this time they lasted just over a month, despite diligently following the adhesive directions. However, since the suction cup mount won’t work on our tub and I’m not willing to mount the bracket with screws, the adhesive was our only option. So it’s time to say goodbye Frog Pod. You will be missed.

We’ve never had any luck with suction cups on our shower, but I tried the new bracket just in case. Sure enough, it fell off as soon as we attached the Frog Pod. However, I bet the eight suction cups on it would hold fine on tile as long as you avoid the grout.

So we’re back to the original 3M adhesive strips. Sure we could always mount the bracket with screws, but I’m not a fan of drilling holes through our tub. Besides, $3 a year is a small price to pay for having a large plastic frog on the wall.

Stay tuned for reviews of more Boon products in the near future!

INCHworm, a Boston-based company, makes children’s sneakers ranging in sizes from a toddler size 10 to a child size 5. Each sneaker is made to accommodate three shoe sizes, for example 10, 10.5, and 11. It works through what they call “iFit Technology.” This accordion-like mechanism in the middle of the shoe allows you to change the size of the shoe through the push of a button.

We were able to review two pairs of shoes, one girls and one boys. Overall, the design of the shoes is quite nice. I would qualify it as a sort of modern look that is fitting of your typical sneaker that all the kids are wearing. The iFit mechanism is actually part of the design. Check it out for yourself on their page: www.inchwormshoes.com

You change the shoe size by pressing a button located on the heel of the shoe and then pushing in or pulling out to the correct size. You can view the selected size through a window located on the bottom of the shoe. Check out their demo page to see how it works INCHworm’s web site calls the mechanism “Parent Adjustable.” Their site explains:

They do require some hand strength to adjust- however, we would not want children to adjust the shoes, and we would not want them to inadvertently change sizes while in use. Therefore we have made them firm in the adjustment area. Consider also that the shoes will be adjusted only a couple or a few times during the time that they are owned.

From a parent’s view, the shoe passed my test. But what would a child think? Our tester’s Mom had this to say:

Adam, age 9, loved the shoes. He thought they were comfortable and liked the Velcro instead of laces so that he could get into them quickly. The fit was great. He used them to run around the back yard and ride his ATV. The next day he wore them to school and he had no blisters and his feet didn’t hurt which can sometimes happen with new shoes.

As his parents we love that the shoe can expand from 3 to 3 1/2 to a 4 shoe size. That is a great feature because at his age his feet grow so fast he needs shoes every couple months. And the brown color goes with so many of his clothes and shorts if he wants to go hiking.

As a family we highly recommend INCHworm shoes!!

While they seem to pass the test, they are a bit pricey, ranging from $49.95 to $59.95. But of course they last longer than the average sneaker so you may be able to justify that cost. Additionally, the INCHworm website says they give 5% of their sales to finding a cure for juvenile diabetes.

I would love to see these for smaller toddlers. Maybe the market isn’t there, but as a mom of a small child, I would probably spend the cash if I knew she could wear them for a while. Overall, I hope to see more of this kind of innovation from other child-gear vendors.

Read the article at SNHParents.

Babysplat displays colorful shapes and plays sounds with each key press. Yes, it’s that simple. But like most simple things, it just works. When this program is full-screen our daughter can bang away at the keyboard with abandon. The only key that appears to still cause trouble is the Windows key: pushing it shrinks Babysplat down to a normal window. This isn’t a problem on my pre-Windows 95 IBM “clackey” keyboard since it doesn’t have a Windows key, but it something to be aware of on modern keyboards. It’s not a big deal because a simple click on the “maximize button” returns it to full-screen, but I’d prefer if there was a key combination to control the window. Of course then our daughter would figure it out.

There’s a similar program, AlphaBaby available for Mac OS X. Unlike Babysplat’s simple geometric shapes, AlphaBaby speaks the letters as they are pressed and can be customized with your own sounds and pictures.

These aren’t the only programs available, but they’re small, simple and free. Yes, I know we could also solve the problem by not letting her play with the keyboard, but where’s the fun in that?

[Lifehacker]

My only concern is that removing the toy bin too quickly seems like it could also lift the frog off the wall bracket. However, I don’t think this would be an issue if the frog is mounted out of a child’s reach and parents get the toys. And I do like that fact that the frog is removable from the wall for cleaning. Still, I would be happier if the frog attached more firmly to the wall bracket, maybe with some sort of safety latch. However, the bracket isn’t enough to prevent me from recommending the Frog Pod. Of course, you have to be willing to live with a fairly large (19″ x 16 1/2″ x 7″) frog on your shower wall.

Although our daughter travels well, it can be a challenge to manage the her stuff in addition to ours. Watching other families, one answer seems to be giving kids their own backpack or roller bag to manage as soon as they’re old enough. Of course, more often than not, mom or dad ends up carrying not only the child, but her bag as well. More daring parents occasionally let their kids sit on the adult-sized roller bags as they’re wheeled between gates. Not the safest approach, but it could work if you’re careful.

The designers at Trunki must have seen kids teetering on adult luggage and figured there must be a better way. So they created one and named it “Trunki.”

The Trunki carry-on suitcase is designed specifically for kids. Not only is it unbearably cute, but it’s designed to be ridden. Yes, you read that correctly: the wide wheelbase and contoured shell make it much more suitable for riding than normal suitcases. At only 18″ x 7.9″ x 12″, it won’t hold much more than a weekend’s worth of clothing, but it should carry the supplies needed to prevent boredom at the airport or on the plane. Plus they claim it’s tough enough to “be ridden by several toddlers.” Judging by the Trunki’s size and the pictures on the website, I think “several” means “two.” But still, that’s impressive. Of course I’m not sure I’d want to check it and see how it fairs with baggage handlers…

Trunki is available at the Museum of Modern Art online store for $40. I think that’s a bargain if it makes just one trip easier. And of course it comes in blue or pink.

[Trunki via Gizmodo]

Today I discovered that Boon, the company behind the Frog Pod toy bin that caught my eye, has released a potty bench. Sure, it doesn’t look as interesting as the Frog Pod, but it has a lot of neat features that should make potty training easier. In addition, it also serves as a bench for bath time and a stool for helping little ones reach the sink.

Boon also has a third bath product on the way: a protective faucet cover/bubblebath dispenser/water deflector.

[Boon via Pocket-lint]