Generally when we think of gadgets we tend to think of techie types – certainly parents don’t often come to mind.  But taking a look at the products available to parents out there, it’s clear innovation loves parenthood.  Check out the DiaperBridge – it’s designed to turn any filthy public bathroom sink into clean changing table.  Its about $20.  The DiaperBridge folds up, so it will fit in any diaper bag–and unfolds to fit over most public bathroom sinks.  You can learn the back story on this product and the inventor behind it, in my book, “Gadget Nation: A Journey Through The Eccentric World of Invention” I’ve heard horror stories where mothers have had to spread their coat on the bathroom floor to find a clean spot to change a diaper.  Yuck.  DiaperBridge to the rescue.

Speaking of changing the little one’s diaper, have you seen the Pee-Pee Teepees— I actually found this product on the Buzzillions site.  If you’ve ever changed a little baby boy’s diaper you’ll immediately understand why the PeePee Teepee is a must have.  Baby boys are famous for spraying the person who is changing their diaper.  I have 3-nephews and I’ve experienced this first hand–chest–everywhere.  The PeePee Teepee is a terry cloth cone that you place on the offending body part while the diaper change is underway.  You stay dry and the PeePee Teepee stops the WeeWee.  A package of 5 costs $12.

We all know that being a Mom is a tough job and the folks at VieVu actually put being a Mom on par with law enforcement an the military.  They created a video recorder for law officers and the military that was tough enough to work in those worlds and now VieVu is launching the same video recorder for Mom’s everywhere.  The VieVue Extra-tough Video camera is an almost indestructible camcorder that clips onto anything and has NO buttons to push–just open it and you’re recording.  Perfect for playgroup.  Clip it to stroller, diaper bag, anything.  By the way this company is offering free video recorders by entering a contest “What’s the best Mommy application for VieVu?”  Send your ideas to contest@vievu.com and you could WIN A FREE VieVu video recorder!

When it comes to big ticket items, we all need help so that we don’t waste time and money buying the wrong product–and that’s certainly true of Mom’s everywhere.  Buzzillions.com can be a Mom’s best friend–check out these product face-offs:

Monitor Face-off: Summer Infant vs. Safety 1st

Both seemed like terrific Infant Monitors–both cost around the same price ($150), but real consumers who purchased both products had some strong opinions.

Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor 1.8″ Screen
Came in the top 1% on Buzzillions.com.  Consumers loved it.  It ’s small, lightweight size and  1.8″ color LCD screen did the trick.  Other features include 900 MHz technology for clarity and 350′ range and night vision so you can see the baby in dark room.  Also it has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 hours.

Safety 1st Sight & Sound Assurance Monitor System did not fare as well.  It showed up in the bottom 10%:.  Many consumers said that it stops working after about a year and a lot of others said that the quality of the screen is very poor, so much so that you often can’t even see the baby.  Other complaints included poor construction and that it was difficult to maintain

Baby Carrier Face-off: BabyBjorn vs. Maclaren

BabyBjörn Synergy Baby Carrier won this face off, showing up in the top 1% of Buzzillions.com
This carrier is the clear winner.  With close to 600 reviews and a near perfect rating, customers can’t say enough about this product.

Maclaren Kate Spade Carrier landed in the bottom 10% on Buzzillons.com. Many of the people reviewing this carrier bought it for the designer name and stylish design but soon realized that looks can be deceiving.  The number one complaint with this carrier is too many straps.

Baby Mobile Face-off: Tiny Love vs. Fisher Price

Tiny Love Symphony-in-Motion Mobile hit the top 1% on Buzzillions.com The winner—it combines 3 different movements and motions, not just the usual circular motion, to captivate and stimulate baby. Several real consumers loved this so much that they went as far as to say that it was the “best product they’d ever bought!”

Fisher Price Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders: Mobile (with Remote Control) sank to the bottom 10% on Buzzillions.com.  Some real consumers said this mobile doesn’t fit their crib, has gears inside that make loud clanking noises.

The Lobster Baby:

“..an adorable costume for Halloween. My old is going as the Little Mermaid and My 3 month son is Sebastian.” - Ellie and Eli’s Mommy from Charleston, SC.

 

Turtle

“My son is 6 months old and we hope that by Halloween he will be crawling, so the turtle with the shell will be perfect.” - Amanda from Lexington, South Carolina

Baby Duckling

“We added some orange tights to look like the duck legs. She was so cute! The costume is very soft and great quality.” - Angie from Columbia, SC

More baby costume ideas and reviews on Buzzillions

Near as I can tell, crib tents are only made by one manufacturer, Tots In Mind, who make the The Cozy Crib Tent II.  I think they have some kind of monopoly, or patent, because they aren’t terribly well made and yet they don’t seem to improve in quality much.  I’m on my third (broken zips seem to be a common problem along with tears in the nylon during installation.  I’ve installed several, all with some degree of tearing, so I know it’s not a fluke.  Here’s the thing though, in general they work.  The tent is made of netting with a structure very like a real tent, with poles that hold the thing up.  Even a tall child can still stand up fully, but can’t (and here is the wonderful part) get out.  That’s the theory anyway.   Remember I’ve been through three of these.  The first, the zipper broke because she managed to wiggle her fingers in a gap at the end of the tent and use that gap to push the zipper open.  The second, she pulled off all the velcro tabs and slipped underneath.  This doesn’t happen with the latest crib tents – The Cozy Crib Tent II which has webbing all around the insides of the crib (see picture).  The third one, with the new wrap around webbing, is working quite well, and strangely enough, she likes it, even helping to zip herself in at night.  Normally I would give a product that broke this routinely two stars, but the thing is, I can’t live without it.  Even if I’ve bought three crib tents, it’s worth her not getting out of her crib and (as she is liable to do) walking down the stairs, out the front door, and hitching a ride to Canada.