UltimateMama is a creature of habit when it comes to certain brands…and she loves Danskin for quality gymnastics leotards for girls. 

Right now, Danskin‘s Girls’ Gymnastics Classics Waterfall Velour High Neck Tank Leotard in green velour is half off – only $12!  Order one online today! Save the rest of your money for gymnastics classes and camp!

UltimateMama has a secret for you:  Borders has a great deal if your child is 12 or under!  Read ten books and get one for free!

Check out the Borders’ Double-Dog Dare summer reading program today!

You know how much your UltimateMama loves a good children’s sample sale.  What better way to get name-brand merchandise for your children at a fraction of the retail price than to hop into a sample sale.

French retailer Bonpoint is holding a sample sale in NYC this week. Plenty of children’s clothing will be featured from newborn to preteen (tops, bottoms, sleepwear, outerwear, shoes, and accessories). Savings up to 60% off!   UltimateMama gives you the scoop:

 – Private Sale: Wednesday, May 12th from 3 PM-7 PM

– Public Sale:  Thursday, May 13th from 8 AM-7 PM and Friday, May 14th from 8 AM- 3 PM

Location:  The Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th Street, NYC – 5th Floor (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

*No cash or checks. American Express, Visa and Mastercard.

All sales are final. No exchanges or returns.

Stollers are not allowed!

Your mommy brought you in to this world!  Show her some appreciation by making Mother’s Day 2010 extra special.

Have you thought about what you are getting your Mother on Sunday? UltimateMama wants to provide you with a list of the top Mother’s Day gifts for 2010 (in no particular order):

– flowers

– a meal out (breakfast, lunch or dinner)

– prepare mom a meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner)

– perfume

– a spa certificate (manicure, pedicure, massage, etc)

– candles

– new purse or wallet

– new scarf

– jewelry

– engraved picture frame of the family:  Things Remembered offers nice silver plated frames starting around $25

– tickets to a musical, sporting event, movie

– stored value gift card to her favorite retailer or restaurant

– Chocolate or something sweet

– Handmade (by her children) card

– A poem or art project (by her children)

– Books

– Sporting goods (new tennis balls, golf balls, swimsuit)

– personalized gifts (towels, bath robes, jewelry boxes, charms, necklaces, keychains, etc.)

– photos (in books, albums, frames, or totes). Check out this super-cute photo collage tote for $49.95 from Red Envelope.

– Make her a gift basket of her favorite gourmet treats

Ironically, after Barron’s touted Johnson & Johnson Inc. on its cover this weekend, the company has egg in its face with a massive recall of children’s medicines.  Affected products include varieties of Tylenol, Tylenol Plus, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. 

UltimateMama wants you to know that McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson Inc (NSYE: JNJ), announced a voluntary recall of “all lots that have not yet expired of certain over-the-counter (OTC) Children’s and Infants’ liquid products manufactured in the United States and distributed in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Kuwait,” according to its website. This recall was after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In yesterday’s press release 4/30/10, the company stated that “some of these products may not meet required quality standards. This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events. However, as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children. Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles. While the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use”.

For more information please contact the company at 1-888-222-6036 and also at www.mcneilproductrecall.com.

UltimateMama will admit to all of you that she had a few of these “recalled products” in her bathroom. So, get off your tushie, look in your medicine cabinent, and get rid of all the recalled products now!!

 For a list of recalled products, click here:

http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/new_recall.inc

UltimateMama wants to give you a quick breakfast tip:  try a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread.  If you want to be fancy, use almond butter and a nice raspberry fruit spread!  You could even add banana slices for extra nutrients.   Your child will love their nutritious snack.  Plus, it is portable!

UltimateMama encourages your nanny or babysitter candidate to bring a resume and list of references with them to the first nanny interview.  If the nanny candidate does not have a formal resume make sure you ask her for references from the last three (or more) families she worked for as a nanny.  Ask the nanny candidate for specifics such as names, phone numbers, duration of job, and why the job ended.  If the nanny candidate hesitates then you may want to delve into why they are not forthcoming about references. 

If you are considering the candidate then call these references and ask them some questions that you have prepared.  You will find that many families are very open when it comes to the delicate subject of childcare.  Some references may even offer to meet you face to face to answer any questions you may have about the nanny.

Do not interrupt the references when they are speaking.  By allowing them to talk freely you may learn more than you even thought you would.  If something they say is unclear than ask for clarification.  If something they say is unsettling to you then make sure to ask the other references similar questions about the nanny to find out if they give you the same response. 

You may consider asking the family references the following questions: 

– how many children did the nanny watch?

– what were the ages of the children the nanny cared for (when the job began and ended)?

– how many hours and which hours the nanny worked?

– was the nanny punctual?

– describe the nanny’s personality or general mood?

– what was the nanny’s daily routine with the child (children)?

– what are some of the nanny’s positive characteristics or traits?

– what are some of the nanny’s negative characteristics or traits?

– what was the duration of employment?

– is there anything that I should know about the nanny (positive or negative) that I did not ask?

– would you re-hire the nanny?

– would you recommend the nanny for employment?

– why did the job end?

The last question is very important because you will get an idea of who ended the relationship—the nanny or the family.  Some nannies enjoy change and do not stay with the same family for long durations.  Perhaps the family moved to another location and it was no longer convenient for the nanny to commute.  Maybe the children got older and their childcare needs changed.  Of course there could have been an incident that led to the nanny’s departure and uncovering that is critical.

Now you all know that UltimateMama loves to get deals on children's items.  However, one must always know when to pass something up.  Something may be a "bargain" for a reason (bad construction, ill-fitting, unfavorable color, etc.) and is not a "deal" at any price.  Just because something is on sale does not mean you must buy it for your child. 

UltimateMama always loves watching Stacy London of TLC's "What Not to Wear" tear apart those who head straight for the sale racks and buy items just because they seem "cheap" in price.  Sometimes, these so-called "bargain" items make those who wear them look "cheap".  

UltimateMama defines a deal as getting something for her child at a steep discount that she would have paid full price for anyway. If you would have never purchased the item at full price then it is not a bargain at any price.

Be careful of the following "bargains" with children's clothing and accessories:

– 2 words:  Dry Clean

– Anything missing buttons

– Anything that needs hemming

– Color fading

– Buying bathing suits for the following year (unless your kids swim all year long you may want to avoid buying bathing suits on summer clearance racks because it is hard to guesstimate your child's size)

– Buying snow boots or sandals for the following year (same issue with estimating shoe size—pretty hard to do)

– Licensed apparel (your son may love Diego now but be over him in three months; same hold true with your daughter and Snow White)