meta-dad » the house and home

Contemporary baby book

Meta-Dad — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:30:26 +0000

For those of you looking for a modern take on the classic baby book, check out the Binth Baby Book. Entirely screen printed. Entirely original. It simple clean no-frills layout with soft muted palette is screen-printed on recycled white stock and cloth cover.

Beautiful woodland illustrations will lead you from the day of birth through the 3rd birthday celebration. With ample room for photos, and to jot down thoughts and memories. In it’s handsome keepsake box this book will become a cherished family heirloom. In it’s handsome keepsake box this book will become a cherished family heirloom.

$110 bucks [+shipping] at Binth

Graphic Scandinavian poster for kids room

Meta-Dad — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:30:24 +0000

With so many cutesy things for kids out there, peculiar and unusual are not adjectives typically used to describe baby toys and decor. But not “Our Children’s Gorilla Children Unite!” poster at Huset. Just as it’s name might lead you to believe, this Swedish company’s designs border on the nonsensical, but in a good way.

Inspired by the 60′s revolution era, this graphic designer made the message big and bold, get together and make a difference. Poster of ecolabled recycled 120 gr paper.

Dimensions: 39″ x 27.3″ (100 x 70 cm)

$40 bucks [+shipping] at Huset.Com

Pay Kids Allowances Via PayJR. Card

Meta-Dad — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:30:46 +0000

PayJR.Com has an allowance system that is based on paying your kid’s allowance vis a vis a refillable Gift Card, specifically a Target Gift Card, branded as a PayJR. Visa Buxx Card. Parents can use this system to their benefit because it is complete with custom a Chore Chart and email notifications for both kid and parent.

Personally, I think this would work best if employed with a built in matching system. That is, what ever they earn on their Buxx Card will be matched in their savings account, this way they are learn about healthy money management.

Solid kids trundle bed on a budget

Meta-Dad — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:30:25 +0000

We recently purchased a trundle for our oldest (4.5 yrs.) and middle (2.5 yrs.) children to complete the transition of our third into his nursery/bedroom. We quickly decided we wanted to get something that is going to be durable and safe enough to weather their active young years but not cost us too much money. At the time, we seem to be finding stuff in the $1000-$1700 range and felt we could find what we wanted for less.

Looking back, I am glad we found something local because well made solid wood beds are heavy and the shipping cost would have killed us in the end. Don’t buy a bed frame on line unless it is an amazing deal, even still you will be paying an arm-n-leg for shipping, I guarantee it. At the local Costco we got ours for just over $500 (tax included) and another $100 for a quality twin mattress. A similar Cafe Kid trundle bed is listed online for as much as $937.50 (tax and shipping not included)!

The Cafe Kid brand has proven to be our wisest furniture purchase yet. With solid wood dove-tail construction and non-toxic veneers and lead-free paints it seems we have a good understanding of what heirloom quality means now, not that it will really make it to the next generation but it should last this one. Regardless, it is a solid piece of furniture that I would recommend.

Kids Mood Cubes

Meta-Dad — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:33:18 +0000

Planning on going camping? Or maybe you just need night light where there is not plug to be found, these LED Mood Cubes with colors flowing from one to the other soothingly may be the answer.

2.75″ x 2.75″, battery powered lights

$6.50 each [+ shipping] at Glow Source

Soft modern PUJ infant tub

Meta-Dad — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:30:49 +0000

Bath time in no time! The new PUJ Baby Bath (pronounced “pudge”) is a Mom-invented bathtub for baby with a very sweet design. It’s made from EVA foam, making it phthalate-free and cozy for baby. A soft tub you can use in a standard bathroom sink. This user-friendly design stores flat, cradles baby, dries fast.

This diceptively simple tub design was born by husband and wife designers Ben & Katie of PUJbaby.Com. There light-hearted bio reads like a modern version of ‘When Harry Met Sally’ but their designs are born from a Designers need to make parenting one step easier, and for that we thank you Ben & Katie.

$99bucks [+shipping] at PUJbaby.Com

Mod isak ABC poster

Meta-Dad — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:30:30 +0000

“I know that P is for PILOT because that will be my job. I know that W is two Vs stuck together, but doesn’t mean there are two VETs. I don’t know all the letters yet, but I know lots of stories that daddy tells me.”

A fun and educational poster to evoke imagination and inspiration, can you guess what all the characters do?

$40 bucks [+ shipping] at Huset.Com

Fisher Price 3-in-1 high chairs recalled

Meta-Dad — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:30:47 +0000

There has been one report of a seat back detaching and child falling out, resulting in a skull fracture with the Fisher Price 3-in-1 High Chair to Booster™ Seat. A recall does not get more dire than this, additionally, the seat back can detach if not fully snapped in place, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury to young children.

It seems if the size of the recall is big enough (this recall is for 24,000 units) it is deemed press worthy while other seemingly smaller ones fall under the news industry radar, except for some of the smaller newspapers and news outlets. This means that word-of-mouth becomes vital to getting the word out to people who may have recalled products in their possession, tell a neighbor, bring it up at the park or mommy and me class – you may prevent an accident from happening.

These highchairs were sold at Target from 2008-2009 for about a $100 bucks. Look for product number (P5369) on the side of the seat.

Unique & totally adorable plush toys

Meta-Dad — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:30:05 +0000

I love this company’s selection of plush toys. Shanalogic is a small artful boutique out of Ann Arbor, Michigan that offer limited edition runs of custom plush toys for kids and grown-ups alike. Most are standard fleece and polyester fiberfill plushes (a few like Squidlet are crocheted or yarn knit), but the designs set them apart from the rest of the toys on the shelves.

Marshmallow Bunny – Special Love Edition $28 bucks
Squidlets $18 bucks
Loveye – Limited Edition $40 bucks [+shipping]

Child Poison Prevention Week

Meta-Dad — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:30:52 +0000

They say, education is the best prevention. I think you’ll be surprised to find some of the real hazards in you cupboard and closets, even over-the-counter products, household plants and crafting supplies. There are hidden dangers in some of the most common household items such as baby oils and sunscreens are listed as oily hydrocarbon products which can suffocate children if drawn into the lungs when ingested, who knew? Now you know.

Each year, poison control centers receive more than 1.1 million calls about accidental poisonings among children ages 5 and under.
Only 30 percent of caregivers are able to accurately measure a correct dosage of over-the-counter medications to their children.
More than 90 percent of poisonings in children occur in the home.
In children, approximately 60 percent of poisonings involve products other than medicines such as plants, cleaning products, cosmetics, pesticides, paints, and solvents; 40 percent of poisonings involve medications. [*MUSC Children’s Hospital, Common Childhood Injuries and Poisonings]

A chilling fact, between 4 and 10 p.m. is known as the “arsenic hour” at most poison control centers because that is when call volume peaks. They attribute it to the fact that the parents tend to be distracted by dinner and other end-of-day tasks that leave their young ones unsupervised more than any other time of the day.