Amber Leventry's Blog

Bunch O Balloons inventor and dad of eight, Josh Malone, has just made a summertime classic as easy as 1-2-3. No really. In three quick and easy steps Bunch O Balloons fills and ties 37 water balloons in 20 seconds. Have 40 more seconds to spare? Fill two more bunches for more than 100 water balloons in one minute.

I can remember my long, youthful days of summer at the community pool, fierce neighborhood kickball games, and evenings of catching fireflies. I also remember riding my bike for hours each day. The feeling of freedom while riding to a friend’s house or the exhilaration of speed while flying down a steep hill would have only been made better if I could have shouted, “Eat my chalk dust!” Chalktrail will let your kids do just that. But more importantly, by adding a piece of sidewalk chalk to your kid’s bike or scooter, Chalktrail will let your kids create artwork while getting some exercise. The makers of Chalktrail like to call this blend of activity and artistic creativity, “Artivity.”

I saw a tagline on Bugaboo’s website—a Dutch company specializing in strollers—stating, “Going out with twins has never been easier—or as comfortable!” Oh, yeah? I have twins. Nothing about going out with them is easy. And if anyone is going to be comfortable while we are out, I want it to be me. But, I am always willing to take suggestions on making my life easier, so I kept most of my snarky comments to myself and read more about the Bugaboo Donkey Twin stroller. It’s pretty sweet.

“Did you know the human head weighs eight pounds?” So says the kid from Jerry Maguire. Let’s not quibble over the actual weight of a human head, but let’s agree that it feels pretty heavy when we’re tired. And if you or your kid—most definitely your kid—have fallen asleep in the car, the human head looks like it may be too heavy to ever lift again. As your child’s head seems to be reaching for the floor of the mini-van, it looks painful too. The SlumberSling solves the problem of heavy heads and painful sleeping positions by keeping your toddler’s head upright when they fall asleep in the car.

As a parent, I want my kids to have some freedom to explore their environment, but they are little and I also want to be able to see them while they roam. I don’t want to hover, but I need visual confirmation that they are safe and nearby. If you’ve ever been at a busy park or a crowded store and lost sight of your young child, you know the panicky and heart pounding sensation of worry. BiKN (pronounced bee’-kin) takes away some of the worry by allowing you to electronically leash, page, and find the things you never want to lose. Like your kids.

Imagine a life where your family goes through Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, Annie’s Mac & Cheese, and Welch’s Fruit Snacks like they are the only thing left on Earth to eat. Okay, if your family is anything like mine that might not be so hard to imagine. But imagine a world where you could have those things delivered to your doorstep without dealing with the crowds, parking lots—the rage those things may cause—or membership fees of big box retailers like Costco or Sam’s Club. Boxed is a free, no membership fee app that delivers big box products to your doorstep. Without the rage.

Though the SwRing was invented by Emory Clark more than 30 years ago, it is new to some parents and their autistic children. It’s similar to a tire swing in that it swings while spinning in small circles while rotating in larger ones. The SwRing is built as tough and long-lasting as playground equipment, but is safe enough for children as young as 18 months. Kids can climb on, sit in, or stand on SwRings, but it’s more than child’s play. SwRing is fun for all but therapeutic for children with autism and recently won a 2014 Family Choice Award for children’s products.

The SaddleBaby Shoulder Carrier enables you to give your child hands-free shoulder rides. It is a harness worn around your chest and has built-in ankle cuffs that keep your child securely on your shoulders, thus freeing your hands to do something else. The cuffs are made with industrial strength hook and loop fasteners as well as industrial strength velcro. The foam saddle is meant to create a more comfortable ride, but SaddleBaby can be used with or without the saddle. SaddleBaby is designed to carry children 2-5 years old.

As a student at the University of Kansas, George Ressler learned of microneedle vaccinations being developed at Georgia Institute of Technology. He saw it as a painless way to provide childhood vaccinations. With the help of Georgia Tech’s research team he designed Hug, a vaccination system designed to be a solution and alternative to needle injected vaccines for children.

Popsicles and summer go hand in hand. Popsicles and my one-year-old twin boys go poorly. But it’s summer and they want what their big sister has. Short of using a hand-held mesh food bag that allows them to gnaw on frozen fruit or letting them lick a popsicle while I hold it, I haven’t found a way to let them enjoy one of summer’s best treats. Until now. Zoku, the company who gave us the Quick Pop Maker, now offers Fish Pop Molds. These pops are the perfect size for little hands.