And I’m not talking about that app that lets your little ones “color” all over your iPhone screen with the touch of their finger. What I am talking about is Baby Brain, a new iPhone app that helps parents of newborns track feedings, diaper changes and even sleep schedules.

You thought light sabers were cool… try having someone - or something - remember the last time you nursed your baby or how long her last stretch of sleep was so you don’t have to. This is a really great option for sleep-deprived parents who have a hard time remembering to shower! Baby Brain, like most iPhone apps, is easy to use; simply tap and track. You can quickly see when your baby’s last bottle was and just how much she ate. Baby Brain keeps logs, which you can easily view even months down the road.

What I love best about this app is it makes those newborn check-ups a lot less stressful for new parents. All the info the doctor needs is literally at your fingertips. You can even email reports to your doctors and caregivers. And get this, it has a breastfeeding timer that runs while you hop online or catch your latest TiVo’d show!

You can purchase the Baby Brain iPhone app for $5 from the iPhone store or directly from iTunes. I’m game for anything that helps keep a new parent sane, and at $5 it’s a sound investment in today’s economy! - Emily H.

Built designers Aaron Lown and John Roscoe Swartz became fathers and discovered a list of products they wished they had but could not find in stores. So, they helped start the Baby line at Built, with products made to make life easier for parents.

I recently received a Cushy Tushy Changing Pad from Built to try out with my little one. The Cushy Tushy is a portable changing pad with an attached pocket for diapers and wipes. It is made out of neoprene, giving the Cushy Tushy some really great characteristics: It is soft for baby, stain-resistant, and machine washable.


The Cushy Tushy Changing Pad’s pocket is a good size for shorter trips. As seen in the picture, it will hold four size three diapers alone, so adding wipes will probably take it down to two or three diapers. It does fold down to a compact size (see the picture below with the same size 3 diaper), making it easy to throw in a diaper bag or purse.


As I tried out the Cushy Tushy, I was really impressed with how well it is put together. It is made with quality materials, and the neoprene makes the Cushy Tushy virtually indestructible. Diapers and/or wipes are right at hand, so users do not need to dig through the diaper bag while trying to keep a squirmy baby from rolling away.

The only downside I see to the Cushy Tushy is its size. At around twenty inches long and just over seven inches wide, it is indeed compact. I know that the designers did not want to add too much bulk to the product, but parents children much larger than my 26” nine-month-old shown in the picture above might have to choose between having the baby’s head hang off one end or their bottom off the other.

If the size of the changing pad does not seem like it will be a problem for your family, I do think the Cushy Tushy is a good product. Here are some of my favorite reasons why the Cushy Tushy will come in handy. It is:

• a great replacement for the cheap, vinyl coated changing mats that come with diaper bags (if you are lucky to get any at all!).


• a perfect diapering solution for quick trips - just grab it and go.


• great to keep in the car for emergency diaper changes because you have a changing pad, diapers, and wipes all in one small package.


• perfect for those (many) diaper changes that inevitably happen on the floor in bathrooms without changing tables - keeps baby’s body cushioned from the hard floor.

Overall, I love the Cushy Tushy Changing Pad, and my baby does, too... you know when he’s not trying to crawl away while I change his diaper.

Selling at Amazon for about $20, this is a great product for families on the go. - Sara I.

Diaper cakes are a great idea for a baby shower gift, but sometimes they can be a little pricey to make. If you are looking for a fun alternative, why not try to make a diaper wreath instead? They don't take as many diapers and you can decorate it as much or as little as you would like. Here are some detailed instructions on how to make a diaper wreath. Check out their gallery for ideas and inspiration.

The nice thing about diaper wreaths are that they can be used as room decor as well, making a cute wall or door hanging to celebrate the new baby. You can even add the baby's name with chipboard or wood letters. Most of these look to be made with disposable diapers, but you could easily make them with cloth diapers as well. - Trisha

As a mom, your diaper bag pretty much goes everywhere with you, so why not carry something with a personal touch? I have swapped my frumpy diaper bag with a stylish tote bag that I made. I got the basic pattern from this DIY tote bag tutorial, but then I made a few changes to it.

The bag in the tutorial is smaller, more like a purse. Since I tend to over pack, I wanted my bag bigger. What I did was increase the size of the pieces. The liner, instead of making it 13x13, I made 17x17". I made the top 8.5" tall by 17" wide, and the bottom 7" tall by 17" wide.

If you want to make more room inside the bag, then instead of cutting a 2"x2" square out of the corners, cut it at 2.5" square. Just make sure you do this to not only the bottom pieces, but the liner as well.

And that's it! By making these few small changes, you can create a large diaper bag that is anything but frumpy! - Trisha

Father's Day is quickly approaching and the Organic Cotton Canvas Baby Daddy Diaper Messenger Bag makes a great gift for the dad of a diaper-wearer. This messenger-style bag is simple and chocolate brown - a far cry from the flowery and pastel bags for Mom. The bag is made from organic cotton canvas dyed with low-impact dyes. It features a stain-resistant and coated interior with several pockets as well as a pull-out changing pad.

The Organic Cotton Canvas Baby Daddy Diaper Messenger Bag generally retails for $130 but is currently on sale at Amazon for $47 - that's 64% off the regular price!
- Jenn