I was shocked, saddened, and angry when I first heard of the intentional melamine contamination of baby formula in China that was making thousands of babies ill and responsible for the deaths of at least three babies. Well, the AP has just reported that trace amounts of this same industrial chemical was found in baby formula made by three major U.S.-based companies:

The three firms ? Abbott Laboratories, Nestle and Mead Johnson ? manufacture more than 90 percent of all infant formula produced in the United States.

The FDA and other experts said the melamine contamination in U.S.-made formula had occurred during the manufacturing process, rather than intentionally.

However, the FDA is saying that this is apparently nothing to worry about since only very low levels of melamine were found. Well, I’m worried. Yet another good reason to breastfeed.

I love Hawaiian print fabrics. There’s something about the combination of colors, florals, and busy designs that make you feel sunny, happy, and ready to hit the beach.

Bella Bubs creates high quality baby necessities, and their Aloha Collection of 10 fabulous Hawaiian prints lets you order matching sets or mix and match. We got to test out a bib, burpie, travel blanket, and floral headband in the Lilac Crush fabric. When I initially pulled out the bib, I thought it looked really big. However, it’s since become our favorite bib to carry around with us because it provides great coverage. Backed with chenille and stuffed with an organic cotton insert, it’s soft, absorbent, and covers her shoulders and entire torso so that food dribbles don’t end up sneaking through the sides onto her clothing.

We’re past the stage of needing to burp Pooky, but the Bella Bubs burpies would’ve been real handy back then. It’s ergonomically designed to fit perfectly over your shoulder, which means it stays put. We joked that it also happens to look like an extra large feminine hygiene product; check out the product photo, and you’ll see what we mean. It’s also a generous size and folds up compact for the diaper bag.

The travel blankets from Bella Bubs are what I’d refer to as a luxury blankies. Backed with minky swirls and lined with organic cotton, these small blankets are so soft and fluffy. They make wonderful loveys and are a good size for tossing over baby in the car seat.

We weren’t super thrilled about the floral headbands from Bella Bubs. It’s made really well, but it’s just not our style. The flower is very large and, with the wide headband, it was just too overpowering for Pooky’s small frame. It may work better for older children.

The Hawaiian print selection from Bella Bubs really makes it worthwhile to purchase a few sets of bibs, blankies, and other accessories to pamper your baby. If you’ve been searching for baby shower gifts that’s useful and is sure to wow, we definitely recommend picking up some aloha vibes from Bella Bubs.

Special offer for our readers: 10% off your order at Bella Bubs with coupon code: googa.

Sometimes the little things in life can bring so much joy. The Snack Trap is just such a thing. It’s designed so that baby can reach in and grab a Cheerio (or other small snack) while preventing the rest from spilling out, even when dropped. It took a long weekend of traveling and hectic-ness for me to appreciate how handy it is to be able to feed baby anywhere without worrying about her making a huge mess. My parents and their friends all marveled at this product and wondered why it wasn’t around when they had babies. I just wish I’d thought of it. It’s genius!

My Brest Friend is one of those products that immediately come to mind when I think of things that were most useful and supportive for me as a first time mom. Choosing to breastfeed was an easy decision for me. However, there was quite a learning curve; most new moms don’t realize how difficult it can be. My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow came in so handy, and I used it constantly for the first few months.

It’s different from all the U-shaped pillows in its design and, in my opinion, its effectiveness and comfort. Unlike these other ones, My Brest Friend wraps completely around your body with an adjustable release buckle (my older version has a velcro strap system), and the surface your baby lays on is flat, not rounded. These two factors are what I think makes it so great. It provides a supportive back rest, and it keeps baby in place. I found that when I nursed without it, my back would ache and Pooky would shift out of position. I could easily put it on and take it off with one hand even in the dark in the middle of the night which I think may be more difficult with the release buckle version.

The one thing that bothered me about the one I had, though, was the noise of the velcro when I took it off; I was always afraid of waking Pooky if she had fallen asleep already. Apparently, there are deluxe versions now that have both a silent release buckle and velcro strap so you can velcro on and buckle off. Overall, I consider this one of my must-have products and highly recommend it. Price: $34.99-39.99 at Babies “R” Us (looks like they have the best pricing on this).

We wouldn’t be doing our job as parents if we didn’t worry about what Pooky eats. After all, there are a lot of options out there, and in many cases the most convenient are not the most healthful. So, while we always keep a few nutritious staples on hand, we’re constantly searching for treats that are tasty, convenient and good for you. Right now, at baby’s age, our options are somewhat limited. We have big plans, though, for when she gets a little older and her palate finds some freedom. I’m particularly looking forward to introducing her to the joys of baked goods, of which Kids Central Kitchen baking products are a terrific entrée (or dessert).

The Homerun Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Mudslinger Chocolate Brownies, and Swinging Monkey Banana Bread we baked from Kids Central Kitchen were quite yummy and, just as key, much better for the body than your typical baked goods. They, like all of Kids Central Kitchen’s products, are made with whole grains and do not contain trans fats, hydrogenated oils, or anything artificial.

For older kids, baking provides plenty of mental nourishment in addition to the physical nourishment. Measuring and combining ingredients, learning to follow a set of directions, watching dough transform into cookies; these can all be wonderful learning experiences. Plus, there’s something to be said for the spiritual nourishment that comes with doing activities together as a family. Check out the Kids Central Kitchen website for all of their baking mixes ($4.99 per pack, $29.99 for a variety pack).

Special offer for Googababy readers: Receive 10% off the total of your first order at Kids Central Kitchen with coupon code: GOOGA and get free shipping with orders over $50. Stock up because your kids will be asking for more!

High chairs can be so boring. If you didn’t think that before, you definitely will when you take a look at this one of a kind handpainted high chair from the peepeyes Etsy shop. The rainbow colors and attention to details make this such a fun chair, and it’s sure to delight your child. Grab it quick, though, because this is the last high chair that’ll be offered through this shop. Price: $550 at the peepeyes Etsy shop.

Pooky hasn’t been a big drooler. Her first two teeth finally came in, and I expected a lot of drool, but nope, none at all. We’ve had a need for bibs more often these days, though, because she’s eating and snacking on solids a lot more. Let me tell ya, she’s quite the messy eater.

These BandanaBibs from Bipi Stuff are great because they have a unique design that makes the bib seem like a part of the baby’s outfit. It reminds me of those cute little bandana scarves some pet groomers put on dogs after they’ve been all prettied up. From Denmark, BandanaBibs come in solids, stripes, and other stylish fabric options. Price: £4.40 (approx. $8.80) at Sling Jax.

Ziploc bags have become a favorite of mine for storing items in the diaper bag – cheerios, wipes, etc. They’re compact, and they make it easy to get to specific items without having to pull everything else out of your bag.

Mobi Storage Bags make this type of organizing fun and easy. They’re sandwich size zip storage bags with cute and colorful designs on them. They’re great for storing mommy and baby’s items or for use as party treat bags. Price: $4.99 for a box of 20 bags at Mobi USA.

These are some extremely well made bibs from Cuddlebee. They come in a generous size that provides great coverage, and the fabric selection is fun and stylish. Each bib is backed with soft chenille fabric, and I actually like the way it looks when it’s worn reversed with the chenille backing facing out – 2 bibs in 1! Price: $16 at Cuddlebee.

It’s a nursing cover called Peek-a-Boo B. I love the name. It actually took me a while to put the Boo and B together, but when I did, I found it pretty amusing.

I’m a big fan of any product that promotes and supports breastfeeding. I’ve come across breastfeeding supporters online who are actually critical of women who are more comfortable if they use a cover while nursing, and then there are those who can’t stand the sight of a woman nursing her baby in public if she doesn’t “hide” what she’s doing.

When it comes to this topic, I’m all for doing what feels comfortable for you (i.e. not for others) whether that’s nursing with or without a nursing cover. If you’re like me and simply feel more at ease with a bit of coverage while nursing in public, the Peek-a-Boo B nursing cover is a super lightweight, simple option that does just that.

It’s poncho-like design means you just take it out and throw it over your head, adjust the positioning if necessary, and then nurse away. It’s super tiny; just scrunch it up and throw it in your bag. Also, it doesn’t wrinkle.

It lacks the boning in the neck area that some other covers have which holds the top open so that you and baby can see each other, but you can still peek in by pulling the fabric at the neck out with your free hand. Price: $24.95 at Peek-a-Boo B.

Special offer for Googababy readers: Receive 10% off your purchase at Peek-a-Boo B with coupon code: Peek10

I love stumbling across products that are made with beautiful fabrics. These bib and burp cloth sets from Dillyhearts are such items. The burp cloth is backed with plush terry velour and can also be used as a changing mat. A great gift item for yourself or someone else! Price: $22 a set.

Special offer for Googababy readers: 10% off your total purchase at Dillyhearts with code: googa-10

When we received this dress from Dolca USA, I thought it was such a bummer that it was too big for Pooky (Dolca clothes come in sizes 2-6 for toddlers). I liked it so much, though, that I ended up playing dress-up with her, and even though I had to roll up the sleeves quite a bit, I still think it looks adorable! It’s not all frilly and scratchy and overdone. It’s made of stretchy cotton and feels like a comfy tee.

The Dolca line of clothing and accessories for children are adorned with the whimsical and fun artwork of Dulce Quesado Magro. Pooky loves to play and stare at the artwork on the hem of her dress. Dolca USA sells beautiful clothing as well as shoes (so cute!), bibs, backpacks, and custom painted furniture.

My only complaint is that they don’t offer clothing in baby sizes, but hey, I guess that means I can start collecting them now for when she’s older. You can find their collection online at Dolca USA. Price: $30 for the dress.

Psst, I’ll be choosing a winner for the Pooky Prize Giveaway sponsored by Dolca USA tomorrow, so find out how you can win.

In case you’re wondering, those are Babylegs Pooky’s wearing with the Dolca dress and bib (we love those, too).

Looking for a great baby gift without the usual bows and teddy bears designs? These changing pad sets from Two Elizabeths are made of vintage-inspired fabrics and come with a 28×14 changing pad that’s plush and soft, a matching bib, and a burp cloth. Price: $69.

These items are made by hand by owner Angie and her grandmother; both of their middle names are Elizabeth.

Special offer for Googababy readers: Receive a generous 30% off your total purchase at Two Elizabeths! Click on this link to receive the discount.

The Flair High Chair from Boon is a modern and sleek piece of furniture for your baby. It comes with a waterproof pad that’s easily removable for cleaning, a compact tray, five-point harness system, and a sturdy pedestal base that glides smoothly under tables. The best feature is its pneumatic lift; just push on the orange button on the pedestal to adjust the height. Remove a few of the parts and use it as a child’s chair as your baby grows.

This high chair will be available in two models: Flair and Flair Elite. The main difference between them is that the Flair comes with a plastic base and the Flair Elite has a stainless steel base. Both will be available from Boon in Spring 2007.

One thing I’ve learned from this introduction to eating is that wipable bibs are essential – BIG, wipable bibs, and lots of them. Bella Tunno makes these hip laminated bibs that are big, wipable, AND machine-washable (now that’s an added bonus). They come in some great designs that make messy eating a bit more stylish. Price: $18.