Wabi Sabi Baby » kid-friendly items

Not So Messy Ice Cream Push-up Pops

Wabi Sabi Baby — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:39:59 +0000

Just about every frozen treats on sticks, homemade or bought, drip everywhere. Unlike us grown-ups who race to finish our treats before even wasting a drop, our kids dawdle, savor every lick leaving a big sticky mess all-over. Keeping them from enjoying these delightful popsicles is simply not an option! Finally, I found a work-around to satisfy both my kids and me.

A few years back, I found these push-up pop molds
that were great from a parent’s standpoint. They come apart so it’s easy to clean and they keep the frozen treats from dripping down the sides. The problem is they sometimes drip from the inside down the handle! But with a slight modification, these molds are still my favorite to use for all our homemade frozen treats.

To make these push-up pop molds not so messy,

take the handle and enclosure apart;
cut approximately a 3″ x 4″ rectangular piece of rag – cotton terry cloth soaks well;
fold in thirds and wrap around the handle and assemble.

A side benefit (at least for me) is this setup naturally lessens how much frozen treat can be packed in!

Cheapest Infant Potty at IKEA

Wabi Sabi Baby — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:46:45 +0000

IKEA Potty

This past weekend, I found stackfuls of one-piece infant potties at IKEA for $3.99 but were on sale for $1.99!!! They looked stable and easy to clean. I’m glad to see how readily available they are now, about four years too late for me. Maybe they’ve been around for awhile but I just don’t find myself at IKEA often. Infant potties are a must not just for potty training but for kids-on-the-go in our fast-paced modern world. I always carry one in my car.

Easy Clean Tablecloths

Wabi Sabi Baby — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:37:42 +0000

Borrowing another great restaurant idea: oil cloth (vinyl) tablecloths. Primary reason? Easy to clean. You can purchase the fabric by the yard from Fabric.com and simply sew fitted tablecloths so that your tots can’t easily pull them off!

Chopsticks for Kids

Wabi Sabi Baby — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:27:46 +0000

Teach your kids how to use chopsticks with these fun kid-sized chopstick helpers (available at Asian markets and grocery stores). The rings help kids and adults alike learn how to hold chopsticks. Not only do they make meals ‘fun’, using them helps kids develop their fine motor skills which helps them with their writing skills later on.

Instead of Disposable Plates, Use Baskets and Liners

Wabi Sabi Baby — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:34:15 +0000

Quizno’s, Schlotzky’s, other deli shops and just about every casual Tex-Mex restaurant use some kind of basket and liner to serve food to their customers. They are sturdy, produce slightly less waste, and don’t require as much cleaning – perfect for picnics and outdoor eating. You can find them at restaurant supply stores.
At Acemart in Austin for example, the baskets are $1.05 each and a box of 500 wax paper liners is $8.45. Did I mention they’re great for kids?

Kid-friendly Tableware

Wabi Sabi Baby — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:15:46 +0000

Get your kids durable tableware from the most unlikely place: restaurant supply stores. Take note from kid-friendly restaurants. They are all about stretching the dollar and serving kids in tableware that can be used and abused. In Austin, head to Acemart Restaurant Supply Store.

Here are my top picks:

Silverware by the dozen – $2! I especially like the dessert spoons and forks. They are perfectly sized for kids. Kids also prefer the shiny metal silverware over the plastics.
Fast food trays – colorful, multi-purpose; great for eating or crafting. Kids are messy – it’s all part of learning. At least with trays, you can tell them to try and keep the food on the tray. It also contains much of the mess and spills.
Durable plastic ‘training’ cups. Sippy cups and spill-proof cups may be convenient from a parent’s perspective. But the best way to teach them to use real cups is to let them practice, practice, practice. If you serve them water (or ‘bubbly water’) most of the time, then there’s no harm in a little spillage here and there.
One-piece booster chairs (and high chairs). Durable and very easy to clean.