In our previous post, we mentioned the value of a digital thermometer for babies and toddlers. We don’t often focus on gadgets in this blog, but there’s another digital product that is becoming a must-have for many parents. The cost of digital photo frames has gone down in recent years, while at the same time the percentage of people with digital cameras has increased. The latest generation of digital frames is wireless and uses the same technology as cell phones.

The Vizit Digital Frame is a good example of the new frames. Each frame has its own email address, allowing friends and family to send photos to it directly from their camera or cell phone. The frame also has a touch screen that allows you to send a pre-worded response such as “Great Pic, Thanks!” The frame also has a card reader and USB port.

The Vizit frame is the first digital frame to support tow-way communication. Find out more about it on the Vizit website. If you like the Kodak brand, then you might want to read about another great frame that supports wi-fi — the Kodak Pulse Digital Frame.

Temperature is a vitally important indicator of the health of a baby. For babies younger than 3 months, a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees requires immediate medical temperature. From babies ages 4 months to toddlers up to 3 years, the critical temperature is 102.2.

It’s not easy to get an accurate temperature reading with traditional thermometers, especially with the rectal thermometers that many doctors recommend. The solution is a digital thermometer that an use orally, rectally or under the arm.

The Summer Infant Three-In-One Family Thermometer allows you to take a baby’s temperature all three ways, providing a separate wand for each. The temperature is displayed on an easy-to-read LCD screen. For more information, visit the Summer Infant website. You can also buy this digital thermometer on Amazon.

More and more parents have a desire to use only natural, organic products for their baby.  The California Baby line of products is one of the leading sources for organic soaps and skin care products that are eco-friendly and animal cruelty-free.  Two of the best-reviewed California Baby products are Super Sensitive Shampoo & Body Wash and Calendula Cream.

California Baby was founded by a mother named Jessica Iclisoy who was frustrated by her attempts to find chemical-free products for her baby.  Her two children have grown and so has her company.  In addition to the online store at the California Baby website, 45 different products are sold in national chains like Whole Food, Babies R’ Us and Target.  Celebrity moms who have recommended the products include Julia Roberts, Courtney Cox, Halle Berry and Katie Holmes.  Find out more on the California Baby website.

On the subject of California babies – maybe all the healthy living and sunshine is what makes California girls special.  We can’t help but love Katy Perry’s take on the California girl phenomena, so we’re sharing her video from YouTube.

Autism has become a big worry for new and experienced parents of babies.  What exactly are the symptoms of autism?  Warning signs that parents have been told to look out for in the past include poor eye contact and low levels of interaction.  Now a new study that has been reported in the September issue of Pediatrics suggests that many babies who are subsequently diagnosed with autism have trouble visually tracking objects and also have abnormal muscle tone in their arms.  Read the more details about the article on MedicineNet.com.

As with all serious medical conditions, you should consult a doctor if you think your baby may be autistic.

There are so many things to do and so little time in the life of a busy mom. Many moms have found a multitude of ways that their smartphone can make life a little easier. In addition to helping them keep in touch, a smartphone can provide access to Android and iPhone apps that target moms.

Here are some of the top free smartphone apps for moms.

Many parents don’t realized that the nursery can be one of the most toxic rooms in the house. Eager to provide their baby with a fresh, clean environment, most parents don’t realize that the new paint and furniture may be giving off toxic fumes. People Magazine recently published some tips from Constance Marie, co-star of the George Lopez show and recent new mother.

Babies spend a lot of time in their nurseries. If you interested keeping your baby free of toxins, the nursery is a great place to begin. Read more on the People Magazine website.

Wonder Pets is an award-winning children’s animated television show on the Nick Jr channel. It’s created with a unique mixed-media technique that combines photographs of real animals with animation. The show is aimed at preschoolers and includes original music by some of Broadway’s top composers.

This YouTube video from Parents Magazine provides a behind-the-scenes look at how The Wonder Pets is made:

June is National Safety Month and there is lots of media focus on keeping children and families safe. The past few years have seen lots of warning for parents about lead paint, children’s medicines, unsafe toys and product recalls. There seems to be a lot more to worry about these days, or maybe the media just makes it seem that way.

The Positive Parenting Solutions website lists these tips for parents who are feeling overwhelmed by the bad news and warnings.

For more details, visit the Positive Parenting Solutions website.

Many parents find it hard not to start comparing their baby’s development with other baby’s. This can lead to lots of anxiety since each child goes through the various development milestones at different ages and often in different order. One baby may have mastered crawling at 1 year while another is already walking. The best advice for new parents is to avoid a rush to judgment about your child’s development. If you have concerns, consult your pediatrician.

Taking the long view will give you more peace of mind, since your child will most likely hit each milestone when the time is right. It will also help prepare you for childhood and adolescence, when your child will continue to develop at his or her own pace. To read more on this topic, see this article on the Parents Magazine website.

There are as many types of toys as there are types of babies. If you have an active baby who likes noise, a toy that provides lots of activities is a great choice. The Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Workbench is a perfect example. Baby can pound, tap, slide, spin and drill while experiencing colors, shapes, numbers and letters. The workbench includes 15 prerecorded sing-along songs and other fun sounds. Find out more about this fun toy and other educational toys for babies on the Fischer Price website.