Realizing I Know Nothing
Archive for June, 2010
Yet another drop-side crib recall
Jun 25th
The details of the massive recall can be found here at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A FIXED SIDE CRIB ON THIS LIST — it is made by Child Craft (conveniently out of business) and is the first on the list when you get to the page — it is also the picture in this post.
The main page has an overview of the recall and provides links to the individual recalls.
In the end, I can only say this to new parents: Do not buy a drop-side crib. In the 15 months I More >
Pampers likes me today. I like Huggies all year.
Jun 25th
Another interesting article from the New York Times and contributor Andrew Adam Newman. Although it focuses on Procter & Gamble marketing Pampers to dads on a more overt basis, it included a couple topics I find somewhat noteworthy that aren’t direct topics of the piece.
First topic: Companies focusing on of-the-moment things like, oh, I don’t know…fathers on father’s day. (on a side note: I remember when my soup was du jour, now the world has gotten so fast it is of-the-moment) Will I change my purchase pattern because I feel like an actual, honest-to-God parent for one day (and in some More >
Exergen Forehead Thermometer
Jun 22nd
I like to be precise with numbers — especially when the number I am looking for determines whether or not we need to make a trip to the emergency room (or a dispensary as my parents call it). To be precise, the rectal thermometer was the way to go when the little guy was under a year. Everything I read said it was the most accurate, and the pediatrician seemed to like the fact we used that method. Then we noticed what our pediatrician was using in the office – forehead thermometer. So, we finally broke and picked up an More >
Silly Pampers
Jun 18th
Why would you try to improve/change your product? Haven’t you learned from facebook that change is not good? Tongue, meet cheek..cheek, tongue. As many a parent probably knows, Pampers changed things up a bit with their diapers and rolled out Dry Max diapers — which are now under attack for causing chemical burns. I will say this: I HAVE NOT USED THESE DIAPERS and I AM NOT CRITICIZING PARENTS THAT HAVE RUN INTO ISSUES WITH THESE DIAPERS. I made that in caps in case someone doesn’t have time to read the whole thing. My thoughts are on the mechanics of More >
Playskool busy ball-tivity center
Jun 17th
It’s hard to review toys since they are like beauty — all in the eye of the beholder. It is either a shoddy product or a fun toy — not a whole lot in between. This toy from Playskool I think deserves a call out. Why?
#1 The kiddo can’t get enough of it — from the time he was nine months until now (he is 14 months) he can sit and hit the start button over and over….and over…and over
#2 I think it’s cool and like to fire it up when he isn’t around
#3 Other dads that have stopped More >
More about me
Jun 14th
In some of my posts and throughout the site, you might find links to products. My commitment to anyone reading this site is that I will link only to products I recommend having used them — or if I am recommending a site where I see deals, I will make sure to note if I have purchased from the site or not.
For instance — I like Diapers.com — so you might see links to them. Sure, you might be able to save a couple bucks by heading out to Target or Walmart, but when you get free shipping and More >
What I thought I knew
Jun 12th
Part of me wanted to add this as a review — or maybe even a tip, but I think it can fit easily — and better categorized under “Being Dad”. For those of you about to have a child — just wait, some unexpected changes are on their way. For those of you who have already had a child, you might understand; or not.
I sit the fence on a lot of issues. Not because I can’t make a decision, but because most times I can see a valid argument on both sides. Once I crossed to the side of More >
It’s still a deal
Jun 10th
If you are looking to save some money on those clothes that your little one gets to wear once and then turns into the ubiquitous hand-me-down, check out zulily. Membership is free — so no invite required. I haven’t purchased anything from them yet, but if it is anything like Gilt Man (I got a great golf bag at half the price), you can expect some deals (just make sure to comparison shop first).
I know, I know, the tagline is “Daily deals for moms, babies and kids”. Consider this my softer side where I don’t feel that everything needs to be More >
Genworth is celebrating parents
Jun 8th
Genworth is celebrating parents on facebook (here is the fan page). Only one thing seems missing from the photos….hmmmm…I wonder what it is.
However, to their credit they do offer a television spot focused on dads for Father’s Day and there are a lot of comments about dear ol’ dad — regardless of the lack of dad in any of the photos.
I don’t like Chips Ahoy! anyway
Jun 4th
According to this article by Elaine Wong, Kraft is repositioning its Chips Ahoy! brand to focus less on talking cookies and more on joy. The new ad “centers on the moments of exultation moms and children alike derive from eating the cookie” and was “was driven by insight from moms, who observed that children would often break out in a “toe-tapping dance” upon seeing the cookies”.
I am sure if it was driven by dads the cookies would be fighting one another to their death, gladiator style, with chocolate chips exploding in the background. Or, maybe…just maybe…mom and dad (or gasp, More >
