Mommies With Style

Even though I’m only 16 weeks pregnant right now with my third child, I’m drooling over Oilo Studio’s fantastic crib bedding. We’re going to have to redo our nursery bedding again, when our third child arrives this summer.  We had boring white bedding for our first child (used on my son’s toddler bed now) and our second child, a daughter, is still in a crib, using beautiful pink organic bedding, from Until Kara. #3 will be a boy and we’re going to have to start from scratch.

Oilo’s Modern Berries Crib Set ($399) would be perfect for my upcoming arrival’s crib bedding. White with sage green, it’s patterned after the red currant berries that grow in Norway and can work for a boy or a girl. Included in the set is a 100% woven cotton bumper and bed skirt, a zippered slip cover bumper, fitted cotton percale crib sheet. It’s machine washable and made in the USA.  While we didn’t use bumpers until both our children approached a year old, I like to have them included in a set.

Exclusive for MWS Readers: Purchase at  www.oilostudio.com — use code: mws2010 to receive a 15% discount on any order.

My son is accustomed to falling asleep while listening to ocean waves. He had a hard time going to sleep as an infant and the waves just seem to sooth him and put him to sleep.  When we travel, we always have to lug his wave machine along, which is a hassle. So when we received the Dozy Dolphin On The Go by Cloud b for our recent trip, we were thrilled!

The Dozy Dolphin On The Go helped recreate his sleep time routine by bringing his familiar sounds of ocean waves with us on our trip. It plays four water-based sounds with individual push buttons: Dolphins Playing, Whale Songs, Tranquil Melody, and Ocean Waves.  There is a volume control button and two sleep timer options: 23 and 45 minutes.  My son absolutely adores his Dozy Dolphin! He plays and cuddles with it when he falls asleep.  It is super soft thanks to the soft hypoallergenic bamboo fabric so it won’t irritate sensitive skin.  Bamboo fabric grows without the need for fertilizers or pesticides, is the most renewable resource on the planet and is 100% biodegradable.  It’s also antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-static and softer than cotton.  Attached to the Dozy Dolphin is a Velcro strap that allows for easy attachment to cribs, strollers and car seats!  Included with the Dozy Dolphin is a booklet that teaches children about endangered dolphins, a Dozy Dolphin Storybook and adoption certificate. Besides the Dozy Dolphin On The Go, Cloud B also has 2 other travel animals – Sleep Sheep On The Go and Gentle Giraffe On The Go!  

Cloud b’s mission is to thoughtfully design and develop useful products that help children sleep better, and simplify parents’ lives. I agree that their products have helped my children sleep better as we also have the Twilight Turtle and Ladybug to add to our collection.  My kids use them every night when their room is dark and it lights their rooms right up! They can’t be without them at night!

Check out their products and save 15% off most regular priced items on Cloud b’s site by entering code MWS-310 until March 23rd.

It’s not too early to start thinking about summer sandals! This season, Livie & Luca, who I’ve been a fan of for a long time, has come out with some gorgeous ones.

We’re wild about Bloom ($45), pictured above – a bright lime green leather sandal with a hand-cut magenta flower. It also features a Velcro closure for easy on and off. Get it in toddler/little girl sizes 4 – 13. Running true to size, my little girl will look so stylish wearing these sweet sandals in the warmer weather! I wish they made them in my size too.W

We also loved the Haru. Using commissioned artwork of Livie & Luca’s new friend Haru playing on the beach beneath the sun’s rays. It’s silk-screened onto textile and then overlaid on Livie & Luca’s soft leather. The insole  is removable, which allows for sizing and hand-washing. Comes in size 4 -8.

Another product we brought along on our trip was the GoPillow! My son and daughter loved the Go Pillow! so much that they actually fought over whose turn it was to have it! The GoPillow! is a portable pillow that has a built-in blanket tucked away inside. My kids loved snuggling with it on the airplane (of course taking turns), since it is super soft and cozy. The portable pillow consists of an inner core of soft, pliable cushion/foam and a soft outer fabric covering.

The Go Pillow! reminds me of a cylinder type pillow that you can place your hand on up to your elbow inside to securely cradle your child while feeding them. The built-in blanket tucks neatly inside, providing easy access to pull out while on the go to allow for mother and baby privacy while out in public breast feeding.

Besides being great for snuggling and breast feeding, it also makes a fabulous nap blanket since your child can rest their head on the pillow while lying on the blanket. Additionally, it makes for a nice place to change your child’s diaper. The GoPillow! is washable (we were thrilled since we took it on the plane) and is available in pink and blue. Check out the GoPillow! where you can see pictures of the fabulous ways it can be of use!  Receive a free breastfeeding guide with every purchase-no code required.

We love Happy Baby Food in my house! This organic baby food company, recently finalists for NBC’s Shine-a-Light award, has some terrific, healthy products for your children. We swooned over their Happy Bites (the salmon fish sticks were awesome),  but our absolute favorite products were the HappyTots and the HappyPuffs.

We’re crazy about their HappyTots – which are handheld toddler meals. I actually found these at Target and keep a few in the car for quick nutrition when we’re on the go — which is pretty much all te time. The pouch looks like the Trader Joe’s pouch applesauce that we buy, so my kids knew instantly how to eat them. My 4 year old was into them, as much as my 2 year old. He loved the Spinach, Mango and Pear flavor and didn’t realize he was eating a vegetable (which brought a smile to my face).   HappyTots come in flavors such as: Green Beans, Pears & Peas, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple & Cinnamon, Banana, Peach & Mango, Spinach, Mango & Pear, Butternut Squash & Apple, and Banana, Peach, Coconut & Prunes.

*Reviewer’s note: There was a recent voluntary recall of HAPPYTOT Stage 4 and HAPPYBABY Stage 1 and Stage 2 pouches (not the HappyBites, as mentioned incorrectly) for possible bacteria contamination due to a packing defect. The products were sold at certain Whole Foods and Targets. The company handled themselves admirably, being open and honest about the recall, which made me like them even more. At press time, no child had become sick.

We also loved their Organic HappyPuffs– which are larger and actually puffier than the standard popular non-organic puff. I was pleased to see they have a organic greens version!

Reviewer received vouchers for product samples.

Little Little is eatting big time. The teeny tiny one has been reaching out for foods for weeks and she can finally join in on the fun. And she just loves it.

Plum Organics : My friend was shocked the other day when I told her I taste baby food. Of course, I was just as shocked that she didn’t. So, apparently, I’m quite the baby food connoisseur as I’ve now tried several brand (in addition to my own, homemade baby food). Point being, Plum Organic baby and toddler foods are actually yummy. As in, if I was going to be the baby food eater, I’d be asking for Plum rather than others. Their new Just line of fruits taste wholesome and rich, the flavor really jumps out of the taste. And I’ve noticed that while she’s not being too picky, she’s definitely responding to their foods. I also love Plum Organic’s easy to use and reuse packaging. The resealable packaging vacuums in what is left in the package as it squirts out onto the spoon or into the bowl, so that you aren’t mixing in bacterias and making any uneatten remainder uneatable. Apparently, more flavors are coming soon to the Just line, and I’m really hoping some of those flavors will be veggies. Plum Organics offers a Tots line that includes mixes of vegetables and fruits and Little (and I) will be tasting those soon, too.

The Huz and I decided that the Baby Dipper Bowl is another one of those lightbulb moments. You know, the one where a lightbulb goes off in your head because you thought of this great idea. Except this wasn’t our idea. This was the brilliant idea of Barbara Schantz, mom of 2 sets of twins. The Huz loves the Baby Dipper because of the friction it provides.  The bottom is a rubber that makes it very difficult to easily slide across a surface. Additionally, its thicker around the sides and the shape is hard for a baby to grip, so babies aren’t likely to pick up this bowl and toss it. (yay!) My favorite innovation about this bowl is the slope: it slopes down in one corner so that I don’t have to tilt the bowl to pick up food in the spoon. Its one of those simple things that no one else thought of.

Thanks to Baby Dipper and Plum Organics for the samples for review.

Packaging says a lot when you’re baby gifting. So does quality and style. When you’re looking for all this in a small baby gift, consider Maclaren’s beginning Range.

I know! I was pretty surprised to realize that Maclaren, reknowned for its buggies/strollers and accessories, had moved into bath products. I was sent samples of beginning bath milks and massage oils, and the package alone is impressive.

The oils and milks provide a mix of nurturing scents that are calming and rejuvenating for the body and mind. Moms to be will delight in rubbing their pregnant bellies and, later, massaging their little babies.

Thanks to Maclaren for providing a sample for review.

I’ve been a fan of NUK since my first child was a baby, 4 years ago. He loved their orthodontic pacifiers — and would only use them. They’ve been updated for 2010 and are now called Genius^TM pacifier (around $4.50 -$4.99 ). Designed by orthodontists, they’re BPA-free and go up to size 3 (which is for 18 months plus). It allows additional space for the tongue, enabling better oral development.

Besides the redesigned Genius^TM pacifier, Nuk is introducing many more products for 2010. They’ve got breastfeeding support products, like a Gentle Moisturizing Balm, breast milk storage bags and containers, and reusable nursing pads (as well as disposable ones).

I liked their EZ-to-Hook Pacifier Carry Case. Just stash your child’s pacifier in it,  hook it onto a diaper bag, purse or stroller. It will hold up to 2 pacifiers and it has ventilation holes to prevent moisture build up. Looking for a great first cup –  NUK’s Learner Cup (between $9.99 and $10.99) is suitable for ages 6 months on. This BPA-free cup features a spill-proof soft spout, easy-grip handles, and an extra wide neck make for easier filling and cleaning.

Gerber’s Graduates line of cups, utensils, and tableware are also made by NUK, as well as the Gerber First Essentials line.

I attended NUK’s 2010 Preview Breakfast in and received a gift bag containing samples.

I recently went on vacation with my husband and two kids and we decided to test out a bunch of fabulous products that I will be reviewing over the next several weeks! I will be sharing my children’s and husband’s opinions as well.

The first product is one that we used over and over again and were thrilled that we had it with us. My husband was a bit skeptical about why we really needed it, but boy was he ever so thankful that we had it with us on the very first day of our 9-day vacation!

Minimus.biz is the leader in all things travel-sized and individual-sized. They stock more than 2,000 products including over 100 pre-packaged kits and gift sets. Products you couldn’t possibly imagine come traveled sized and Minimus.biz carries them all. All of their liquids and gels are TSA compliant (3.4 oz or less), which makes packing that carry-on all the easier.

The Traveling with Toddlers kit holds all of the essentials you could possibly want as a parent. It contains 21 travel-size products in a zippered 10″x8″x2.5″ clear vinyl bag which makes it a breeze to find what you need at any time! The kit came in handy when the following happened on our trip:

- My son fell on pavement and scraped his elbow pretty badly. Never fear – the handy first aid kit came to our rescue. The kit contained not only bandages, but towelettes to wash the area, alcohol prep pads to cleanse the wounds, anti-biotic ointment (bacitracin) to promote healing plus more!

- My son had developed a diaper rash and needed cream. I never carry cream anymore and was thrilled to have Boudreaux’s Butt Paste in the kit which instantly gave him relief and eliminated me from having to take a trip to the store.

- My kids’ hands needed disinfecting and washing a lot as we were very active with activities everyday. Hand sanitizer and the Candy wipes came in handy often.

- My kids’ noses were always running so the pocket tissues were a huge help!

- We forgot shampoo for my kids’ baths and were thrilled to find California Baby Shampoo/Bodywash and Bubble Bath!

- The stall in the airport was out of toilet paper so the Charmin To Go was perfect!

- We had a few spills in the car and the Bounty to go Mini Roll of Paper Towels was the best!

There is so much more inside the kit as well. It even came with a small flashlight with batteries included. We were so impressed with this kit and couldn’t get over how many times it came in handy and made travel easier! We were so thankful to have it with us on our trip. It has found its new home in my car and has been great to have on the go!

We also received some travel games such as Candy Land Travel Fun On the Run and Tangoes which my kids loved playing on the plane and when we had down time. They were both the perfect size to travel with. Also, with airplane food a thing of the past, we were well-prepared on the plane with great travel friendly treats. My kids enjoyed the Squeezers Peanut Butter & Jelly combo and individually wrapped Ritz Cracker packages while my husband and I had the Wild Garden Hummus To Go and Cracked Wheat Wafers which were delicious. We all liked the Kool-Aid 2 Go packets which we just dropped in our water bottles!

With over 2,000 items and 15 categories to choose travel products from, you’ll be sure to find what you are looking for. The next time you travel or just want some simplicity for the travel sized products you tote around town the most, check out Minimus.biz – you’ll be thrilled you did!!!

Save 5% off the Traveling with Toddlers Kit or the Toddler Travel Kit (smaller version of the Traveling with Toddlers Kit) by entering code mommieswithstyle at checkout until March 31, 2010. Free shipping is offered on orders over $20.

My little one just became potty-trained in the past 2 weeks! During our little potty boot camp (during the crazy blizzard on the East Coast) we used a variety of potty training products. One of them was the On-the-go Inflatable Potty Seat, a soft, comfortable sturdy seat for my son.

You may be wondering why I used a travel potty seat while I was potty training in my house. Well, first of all, this potty seat fit nicely on a toilet that is a bit odd-shaped and was hard to use with other potty seats. Secondly, it was very easy to use and comfortable for my son. The inflatable seat with backrest support and handles made the large toilet seat nice and snug for my son. He felt safe and secure and it definitely helped him gain confidence as he learned to use the toilet. The seat was also very easy to clean. I just rinsed it under some warm water and it was clean in seconds.

This is a great product to take with you in your car, with you on a trip, or wherever you may venture to outside of your home. Since it is inflatable, it folds down to almost nothing, so it’s easy to pack and take along. The stabilization ring fits in the toilet seat opening and prevents the seat from slipping, which is a problem that I find with many of these types of seats.

Best of all, it is very inexpensive, at $7.99. Available in both blue and pink, this is a great product to have on hand for your potty-training or potty-trained child. Learn more about the inflatable potty seat with an interactive video or purchase online!