Pregnancy & Childbirth

Looking for More? Check out the 2007 NAPPA Parenting Resources Honors Winners coverage at www.NAPPA.Parenthood.com for more handy, sanity-saving parenting tools and resources. You’ll also find more background on NAPPA and information on how to enter a product, as well as complete coverage of the 2006 NAPPA Children’s Products Gold and Honors winners, featuring great toys, books, DVDs, software, videogames, music and spoken-word recordings.

About What Was Lost: 20 Writers on Miscarriage, Healing and Hope edited by Jessica Berger Gross (Plume, $15). Miscarriage is hard to discuss and even harder to find support for in our society. These moving essays break through the silence and isolation and point to the power of connection. While every story is different — some ending with a full-term pregnancy, others with adoption or the decision not to become a parent — they all testify to the healing that comes with time and reflection. This book speaks directly to the hearts and minds of anyone who has had a miscarriage and to those who want to understand the experience. And Baby Makes Three: The Six-Step Plan for Preserving Marital Intimacy and Rekindling Romance After Baby Arrives by John M. Gottman, Ph.D., and Julie Schwartz Gottman, Ph.D. (Crown, $24.95). Two leading experts on successful couples offer advice on preventing and repairing the strain on relationships that often comes with entry into parenthood. In addition to proven techniques for reducing conflicts, soothing frayed nerves, recovering from fights and rejuvenating sex life, this book includes exercises and anecdotes from the authors’ popular Bringing Home Baby workshops.

Riding the Infertility Rollercoaster: A Guide to Educate & Inspire by Iris Waichler, M.S.W. (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, $17.95). In taking a comprehensive look at the emotional and practical aspects of infertility, this book stresses the importance of finding the right healthcare professional. It covers a range of treatments; age, legal and insurance issues; who to tell in the workplace; when to stop treatments; adoption; the choice to remain childless and more. The author doesn’t provide medical detail, which can be found elsewhere, but instead includes personal stories written in a tone that allows readers to hear the words without becoming emotionally overwhelmed.

Baby Care

Avent Isis iQ Duo Double Electronic Breast Pump, Avent America Inc.; $349.99; www.aventamerica.com. Although pricey, this pump is a good choice for those who need to pump regularly, quickly and comfortably. Mom sets the pump’s suction, speed and rhythm with a control located on the bottle at her breast. An electronic memory stores the setting, and a quiet motor matches the vacuum of a hospital-grade pump for pumping on-the-go or at home. Switching between manual and electric pumping is easy, and it comes with instructions and a DVD that takes the guesswork out of set up and use.

Adiri Breastbottle Nurser, Adiri Inc.; $17.78; www.adiri.com. Not only is this bottle softly dome-shaped like a breast, the jaw action of the baby sucking on it is just like when the baby is at the breast. This inventive design helps babies to transition easily from breast to bottle. It reduces air ingestion and simulates letdown by letting the baby temporarily increase flow by kneading the dome. When filled, the bottle’s broad surface provides a comforting warmth against baby’s hands and face. Testers found this bottle to be superior in capturing the feel of breastfeeding.

The Breastfeeding Answer Book by Nancy Mohrbacher and Julie Stock (La Leche League International, 3rd ed., available as either a spiral bound book, $55, or as a Windows- and Mac-compatible CD-ROM, $50). The text is easy to read, the format is simple and answers can be found quickly. Topics include common breastfeeding myths, new ways to position baby for latching on, how to increase milk supply, treatments for damaged nipples and more. It has more in-depth information than similar resources. Parent testers suggest reading it before giving birth if possible, since knowledge leads to greater success.

Portable Baby Changing Station, OskerBee Baby Products; $80; www.oskerbee.com. This lightweight foldable “cot” with a chrome frame raises the baby off the floor for sanitary, on-the-go diaper changes. Scaled for newborns to two-year-olds, its wipe-clean nylon surface has a harness for securing squirming infants and a locking mechanism on the frame for stability. It weighs less than two pounds and folds down to 14 inches. As your baby grows, the pad can be removed from the frame for additional use. It comes with a nylon shoulder bag with a detachable pouch for diapers, three insulated front pockets, interchangeable straps, a phone holder and other handy features.

Valco Baby Buggster, Valco Baby; $325; www.valcobaby.com. This stylish stroller for children from 3 months to 45 pounds combines the convenience of a lightweight umbrella stroller with the comfort and performance features of an all-terrain stroller. It’s easy to set up and fold, features a multi-position reclining seat, offers plenty of storage area, folds compactly and has a removable front wheel. It’s easy to maneuver with one hand. The large, rounded hood offers maximum protection, and the stroller comes with a raincover, zip-in UV protection and a boot cover.

Yummy in My Tummy! Healthy Eating Habits for Life (The Liandrea Co., $19.95; www.liandrea.com). This engaging 50-minute DVD guides parents through introducing solid foods to babies 6 to 12 months. The advice is in line with American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines and the format makes the information accessible to those parents who are more likely to watch than read about what they want to know. Solid nutrition information from well-known dietician Louise Lambert-Lagace is matched with advice from a pediatrician and tips from moms. It’s worth watching more than once.

The Toddler Years

Cloud b Sleep Sheep On the Go, Cloud b Inc.; $21; www.cloudb.com. Create nap-time consistency for your tot at home and away with this smart solution wrapped in sheep’s clothing. Sleep Sheep, a cuddly lamb with a battery-operated sound box inside, lulls little ones to sleep with soothing sounds from nature. A strap fastens the plushy sheep to the outside of the crib or to car seats and strollers. The timer can be set for 23 or 45 minutes and the volume adjusts so Sleep Sheep’s familiar sounds can be heard over other noises.

It’s Potty Time, Levels of Discovery LLC; $37.50; www.levelsofdiscovery. com. Sturdy and colorfully painted, this adorable wooden potty training chair comes with a working timer that helps little ones learn to sit and wait. It’s just the right size and height for a tot learning to use the potty – generally children up to 50 pounds or age 3. Non-slip grips prevent the chair from sliding, so kids can get on and off by themselves. The “spray shield” stays put and shields so well that pants (and floors) stay dry. The plastic pot is easy to remove and clean. It’s a cute addition to the family bathroom that gets good results.

SafeGuard Go Portable Child Safety Seat, SafeGuard, a division of IMMI; $199; www.safeguardgo.com. The SafeGuard Go combines the safety of a five-point harness with the portability of a backless booster seat. When your child outgrows the harness (up to 60 pounds), the back can be removed and the base converts to the first-ever LATCH-equipped, belt-positioning, backless booster that can be used for kids up to 100 pounds. Our child testers found it very comfortable; while parents loved its lightweight, compact design and that it folds into the included travel bag with shoulder straps. It has undergone thorough industry testing, and far surpasses government safety standards. Correct installation is a snap in less than a minute.

Preschoolers

The Nappa Judges The 2007 NAPPA Parenting Resources winners were evaluated by NAPPA’s staff of veteran parenting editors, family testers, specialty judges and lead judge Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D. A former NAPPA winner himself (for his best-selling book Playful Parenting), Cohen is a licensed psychologist specializing in children’s play and play therapy. Their lead safety consultant, Erin Christiansen, is a child injury prevention specialist for an urban public health commission. She and her team assessed the overall safety, stability and compliance of baby and toddler gear with national safety standards. Veteran childproofing specialist Tom Connolly, a member of the International Association of Child Safety, focused on product durability, installation and overall safety. Nutritionist Sheila Globus, a health writer and former associate editor of Prevention magazine, evaluated nutrition and fitness products. Birth doula Carolyn Ogren, co-chair of the 2007 DONA International Conference and a former member of the organization’s board of directors, drew on 30 years experience as a childbirth instructor in testing pregnancy and childbirth resources. Lactation specialist Dot Norcross, IBCLC, brought 25 years of experience assisting families to her role in selecting the best breastfeeding resources. Last, but not least, scores of family testers — some with medical and product-testing expertise — assisted us in choosing this year’s winners.

Kid Safe Driveway Guard, KidKusion Inc.; $129.99; www.kidkusion.com. This safety net helps keep kids in the driveway and cars out. The bright orange, weather-resistant netting stretches across the driveway from one post to the other, and easily retracts when playtime is over. Both posts can be removed and reinserted easily into below-ground sleeves installed on either side of the driveway. The net is 25 feet long by 36 inches high (other lengths are available). Our childproofing expert suggests using a quick-setting concrete for proper installation of the post sleeves.

Learning Games: Exploring the Senses Through Play by Jackie Silberg (Gryphon House, $14.95). This activity book stands out not just for the quality of its games, but for its focus on the five senses and on learning about the world through play. Every game also contains a recommendation for a related children’s book, and each section contains surprising facts about animal senses. (Did you know that scorpions have 12 eyes?)

School-Age and Older Kids

Autism Asperger’s Digest, Future Horizons Inc.; $49.95 annual subscription; www.autismdigest.com. This bimonthly magazine is a must-read for anyone touched by autism — parents, professionals and older teens and adults on the autism spectrum. The tone is upbeat and affirming, and topics — such as creating a life estate, learning social skills in the workplace or accessing services — appeal to a wide audience. Writers include professionals who are on the autism spectrum themselves, as well as experts who serve children and adults on the spectrum. The ads also provide a wealth of resources.

All Ages

A Child with Special Needs, Parents’ Action for Children, 2005; $14.95; www.parentsaction.org. In this DVD, host Sylvester Stallone talks about his own autistic child and then introduces sections on finding out about a disability, getting help, dealing with labels and stigma, and how parents can take care of themselves. The information is reassuring for anyone who has a family member with special needs and an eye-opener for those who do not.

JobsandMoms.com Career Center, free; www.jobsandmoms.com. Here’s clear and friendly help for women seeking ways to blend work and family, whether they’re full-time professionals, moms who have been away from the workforce for a few years or women looking for flexible work options. The work of career consultant Nancy Collamer, the site includes a job board of family-friendly jobs and companies; advice on home-based businesses, direct sales and franchises; online learning information; a blog; a bookstore and more.

Note: While all of these NAPPA-winning products have been judged to the best of their ability, to be safe and well-constructed, judges don’t warrant their safety or appropriateness for your child and they’re not liable for any injuries that may result from their use.