February 8, 2012

Mustela Hydra Bebe: Baby Lotion That’s Not Just for Babies ($10)

My latest tv obsession is the CW tv show Gossip Girl.  I know, I know, it’s a little sad how I love these teenage angst shows but really this one is so good!  The last four seasons are available on Netflix so I’ve slowly been making my way through the seasons.

So when I got this press release about Leighton Meester (Blair, on Gossip Girl) using Mustela products, I had to check it out.  According to the release, Leighton’s makeup artist says she uses Mustela’s Hydra Bebe on Leighton!  As I’ve used Mustela products on my kids before, I know it’s good stuff and I believe it!

Get Mustela’s Hydra Bebe for $10 online at various retailers.

BabySilk Sunscreen Towelettes

It’s really tough to get sunscreen on a wriggly eleven month old, as well as a wired 3 1/2 year old and an almost 6 year old– so MD MOMS Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes 30 SPF ($25 for 15 wipes) are a must have in my house. It is so easy to wipe this Broad Spectrum sunscreen (which protects against UVA and UVB rays) on a constantly moving child! They’re water resistant and sweat proof. Best of all, my two older kids can wipe their sunscreen on themselves! I usually use one towelette for each child – and yes, it one wipe will cover a almost 6 year old.

If you want the make the package of sunscreen wipes last longer, use the sunscreen wipes on your child’s face and then use another sunscreen for their arms and legs. These wipes come a couple of sizes,  either a package with 15 towelettes for $25 or 3 single towelettes for $7.50. My husband and I love them too (you can hold a baby and still get yourself all sunscreened up!).

The sunscreen wipes contain vitamins E and B5, marine silk, aloe and oat, to protect, soothe and moisturize skin. Dermatologist-approved and hypoallergenic, it contains no phthalates, lanolin, mineral oil, petroleum or waxes, It contains physical sunscreens, titanium and zinc oxide, as the only active ingredients.  No chemical sunscreen ingredients.

  • UVA rating: PA+++ (provides the highest level of protection against UVA rays)
  • Only $1.73 per premeasured application!
  • TSA-approved for carry-on luggage

Get it here.

Baby Sophia Gifts – Now Selling Dresses!

For years now, my staple newborn gift present has been from Baby Sophia Gifts.  You can see that I’ve reviewed them before.  The owner happens to be a good friend of mine but that’s certainly not why I review her products – I review them because simply her products are fabulous newborn baby gifts.

She embroiders bibs and burp clothes with initials and baby’s name.  New Moms love personalized items and a bib and burp cloth makes an affordable and classy gift.  I love bringing a set to a hospital when I plan ahead.

Baby Sophia Gifts now offers a new product – Baby and Toddler Dresses for little girls. Personalize baby’s dress with an embroidered initial and a matching ribbon and this makes the ultimate gift.  Even better, the dresses are $22 each – a great price for a personalized gift.

Check out BabySophiaGifts.com – get free shipping on orders over $50 – be sure and mention Mommies  with Style at checkout so they know where you came from!

Baby Aquaphor Healing Ointment and Gentle Shampoo and Baby Wash

Before I became a mom over 5 years ago, Aquaphor Healing Ointment by Eucerin, has been a staple in my house. I’ve used it on my dry skin and when I had my first baby in 2005 – I started buying the baby version, Baby Aquaphor. My reason is that it worked well on me, so I wanted to see if it worked on my child’s delicate parts. It actually was one of the only products that cleared up my first child’s diaper rashes. I used it all through my daughter’s infancy and beyond  (she’s 3 and still not potty trained) and our newest child (who’s 6 months old). I still use it on myself, because I have dry skin and it hydrates chapped body parts. I reached for it a few months ago when my elbows cracked because of the cold.

But I wasn’t familiar with their Gentle Wash and Shampoo. My 6 month old has been getting eczema and it seemed to be more pronounced after a nursing session, which led me to make sure all my clothes and sheets were washed an allergen and perfume -free detergent. When that didn’t stop his reaction, I had to examine what I was using to cleanse my own body. BabyCenter had recently sent me samples of Aquaphor’s healing ointment and their Gentle Wash and Shampoo, so I decided to try the Gentle Wash and Shampoo and see if that changed anything. So I switched it for my brand and it really helped my baby’s face clear up. So I started using the Gentle Wash and Shampoo on the baby and I saw even more of an improvement. The eczema is basically gone and I’m thrilled.

Aquaphor has a Mom’s Soothing Center on their site, that offers tips, tricks, and advice to get moms through their baby’s first year – go to http://Aquaphorhealing.com.  You can also find a coupon for $1 off. BabyCenter also has a great Comfort Zone Group in  BabyCenter Community, sponsored by Aquaphor, which is a place to get a some of relief from the everyday mom challenges. You can discuss fussy babies, bathing challenges (luckily kid #3 still likes the tub), teething, sleep trouble, and skin related issues.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BabyCenter in conjunction with the BabyCenter Blog Network. I was compensated and supplied with a 3 oz tube of Baby Aquaphor, two .35 oz tubes and an 8 oz bottle of Gentle Wash and Shampoo. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Shop with Zulily

Image and video hosting by TinyPicAs a busy mom of 3 (including an infant), I do most of my shopping online. I’m always looking for a bargain and LOVE those members only daily deal sites — and one of my favorite ones is zulily.

If you don’t know what zulily is, it gives parents daily deals on unique and hot brands at up to 70% off retail prices.  I’ve already bought a lot of things for my kids, myself and as gifts on the site.

So when I was invited to meet the staff at an event in NYC last month, I had to go! I spoke to President and CEO Darrell Cavens, who used to be an executive for Blue Nile.  I was very impressed when he told me he wouldn’t put anything on zulily that he wouldn’t buy for his own family. He co-founded zulily to introduce parents to high quality boutique brands at significant discounts.
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Tickle Toes: Making Bath Time Cozy

When it came time to give our little guy his first sponge bath I needed a nice soft, hooded towel to make him as comfortable as possible (even though it was tough since he HATES being undressed!). That’s when I turned to the Tickle Toes Hooded Towel. It certainly did it’s job to keeping my guy cozy and warm.

Tickle Toes makes fashionable and cute bibs, burp cloths, hooded towels, stroller blankets, cover ups, rompers, diaper clutches and wash cloth sets. The idea behind it all was to create matching sets, in quality material. Don’t we all just want to give our children the best? I personally liked the Billy Triple Stars hooded towel and washcloth set ($35) I used this set to give our little guy his first sponge bath, and not only did it keep him nice and warm and dry..it also had a cute little star pattern, and the material was so soft and fluffy.

Any Tickle Toes  item would make a great holiday gift for any child. I think mommy would be VERY happy to have such cute and stylish items.I know I am!

I was provided with a Tickle Toes Hooded Towel set in order to do this review. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Diapers.com: Beyond Baby Care & a #Giveaway for $200 Gift Certificate

My youngest child has been out of diapers for over a year now so buying diapers and shopping somewhere like Diapers.com has not been on my radar. Until recently, when I received a note about participating in a campaign for Diapers.com to purchase and use the site for more than diapers.

More than diapers at Diapers.com?  I was curious to see how the site had grown since my last child potty trained and was pleasantly surprised at how much their offering had expanded since the last time I ordered.

I placed a big order for several products, none of which was diapers!  I got toys for my kids for Christmas, clothes and skin care products for my kids.  In searching for various products, I was able to find everything I was looking for.  Check out the array of Legos they offer!  (My kids are so into Legos right now, I was impressed with their selection.)

I also ordered this adorable Tea Collection Lion Double Decker Tee.  Then I was out of hand soap so I hopped over to body care and ordered several bottles of Burts Beeds Hand Soap.  Bottom line being that their offering has moved beyond diapers and their prices are competitive.  (Free shipping over $49!)

Just to give you an example the vast assortment of products you can buy for your family’s needs, check out this random assortment of products you can buy on Diapers.com:

Bravado Designs Nursing Tank - $49

Fisher Price IxL Learning System - $89.99

Basq Cucumber Tea Eye Gel - $24

3-pack of EPT Pregnancy Stick Tests - $13.99

Lego City Seaplane - $9.49

Shipping is free when your order is over $49 and no joke, my order came in a day and a half. They promise 1-2 day shipping and I placed my order late one night. It came not the next day but early the following morning; roughly 36 hours.

Giveaway: One lucky reader from Mommies with Style will win a $200 gift certificate to Diapers.com!  Comment below to enter.

This giveaway ends after Sunday, December 12th – one winner will be selected at random after that time.

Disclosure:  I was given compensated and given a credit to spend at Diapers.com to facilitate this post.

TummyTub: Making Bathtime Easier for Newborns

For nine months your baby feels safe, comfortable and secure in mother’s womb – what better way to help baby relax than to mimic that environment?  TummyTub was developed in Holland in cooperation with physicians, midwives and nurses to help ease the transition from womb to the world.  The unique womb-shape allows baby to maintain a fetal position and stay warm while you bathe him.

TummyTub is said to help calm colicky babies.  I received my tub after my little one was past her bout of colic, but judging by her enjoyment of the tub in later months, I’m sure it would have helped us during some sleepless nights.  We did have some successes with the TummyTub, though.  Water stayed warmer longer since there’s less surface area exposed, we could use it anywhere…not necessarily in the sink or bathtub, and clean up was a breeze!  It was super easy to travel with as well and even served as an extra container to pack baby’s things – something that’s always a plus when traveling with a little one!  My little one loves bathtime and has progressed to the tub, but TummyTub is suggested for toddlers up to 2 years old.  Yep, up to 2 years old!  I know when you look at that little tub you wouldn’t think that even an 8 month old could fit in there, but I assure you that they can.  You can read all about the benefits for every age on TummyTub’s site.

TummyTub retails for $42 and can be purchased directly from the TummyTub website or from retailers around the world.  The company has also designed a Two-Step Stool that allows you to sit comfortably in a chair while bathing baby in the TummyTub and can then be converted to a step stool or seat for your child as they get older.

TummyTub provided a product sample for review on Mommies with Style.

Motherlove Herbal – Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Products

Image and video hosting by TinyPicMotherlove Herbal is ideal for anyone who’s pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, as well as babies. This company uses certified organic ingredients that are certified cruelty free and without preservatives, artificial fragrances and petroleum-based additives (such as mineral oil). All of their products are safe for baby’s skin. As a mama who’s now 4 weeks postpartum, I have been testing out their More Milk Plus capsules and their nipple cream.

While I was familiar with their products, I had a very positive experience testing out their More Milk Plus capsules ($23.95) — which contains their more milk plus alcohol free liquid concentrate in vegetarian capsules. This herbal formula is designed to quickly increase breast milk production (don’t use if pregnant). It contains fenugreek seed, blessed thistle, nettle, fennel seed, non-GMO soy lecithin, modified vegetable cellulose, and coconut oil. All of the herbs are Certified Organic. The capsules does not contain any milk, dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, or gluten.

Image and video hosting by TinyPicNext, I tested out their Nipple Cream ($9.95).  This soothing salve does not contain lanolin or vitamin E and really relieves sore, cracked nipples. The ingredients are extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, marshmallow root, and calendula.  All the ingredients are safe for baby and it doesn’t need to washed off before nursing.

Also notable is their Diaper Rash and Thrush Cream ($9.95), which is an all-natural salve for diaper rash. Contains extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, oregon grape root, myrrh, yarrow and calendula.

Thank you to Motherlove Herbal for providing product samples for review purposes.

MD Moms BabySilk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes- Be a Sun Smartie!

We’ve gone through TONS of sunscreen this summer – creams, lotions and sprays. But I have to say, the easiest and my favorite to use has been the sample of MD Moms Babysilk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes -SPF 30+ ($26) that I just received for testing. I was able to cover my almost 5 year old son, using one wipe. My 2 1/2 year old daughter and my husband prefer it also. As we were applying sunscreen the other day, using the wipes, my husband said, “This is great!”.

The sunscreen goes on a little white, but can be easily rubbed in. It’s water resistant and sweatproof, plus I don’t have to worry about getting it in my children’s eyes. I found that the wipe was so much easier to control than a cream, spray or lotion. MD Moms Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes also do not contain phthalates, lanolin, mineral oil, petroleum or waxes. They do contain physical sunscreens, titanium and zinc oxide, as the only active ingredients – no chemical sunscreen ingredients.
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California Baby Products for a Sun-Smart Summer

Looking for chemical-free products for your child? California Baby recently sent samples of their several of their fabulous product — and we love them!

We love their Everyday/Year-Round SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion ($39.99), which offers UVA-UVB broad-spectrum protection. It comes in a 6 oz and 2.9 oz size ($19.99) and either one is perfect for stashing in your beach/diaper bag. While we found the sunscreen lotion is very liquidy, we loved that it was chemical-free, non-staining and won’t sting little eyes. It does not contain parabens, sodium benzoate, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, or phenyoxyethanol. It contains Japanese Green Tea and an essential oil blend. It’s water resistant – make sure you apply 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours to dry skin.

Their  Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent Spray ($13.49) contains citronella, lemongrass and cedar to repel bugs. This DEET-free, natural formula smells amazing and is should be reapplied frequently to keep the pests away (and it does!) Bonus: It will also soothe existing bug bites with herbs for healing skin. [Read more...]

Naturals by Safety 1st

Image and video hosting by TinyPicSafety 1st recently released their Naturals Line and I am a big fan! This line does not contain any parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde or dyes and has no harmful chemicals or preservatives – which as a mom makes me happy.For this line, Safety 1st follows the natural product standards set by the Natural Products Association (NPA). The standards say that “natural products must be formulated with at least 95% all natural ingredients and contain only synthetic ingredients specifically allowed under this standard and environmentally-friendly products that are nurturing to us and as harmless as possible to the Earth.” We tested out 4 of the products: Shampoo and Body Wash, Bubble Bath, Intensive Moisture Lotion for Dry Skin and Daily Moisture Lotion. All had very reasonable price points of around $5.99.

While we liked all the products, my children’s favorite product was the Bubble Bath. My kids beg for this every bath time. They love the bubbles- I love that it’s not harmful to them. It’s recommended for babies ages 6 months and up. I kept stealing the Intensive Moisture Lotion for my own dry feet and love the way it moisturizes. The Daily Moisture Lotion is great for applying to baby-soft skin after the bath. The Shampoo and Body Wash was gentle and tear-free, which is a must in my household.

You’ll be able to find Safety 1st’s Naturals Line at Babies R Us.

For more information on the NPA and their natural standards please visit: http://www.npainfo.org/

Thank you to Safety 1st for providing samples for review purposes.

Beginnings by Maclaren: An impressive little baby-body gift

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 Rangebeginnings.

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.

Minimus: Don’t leave home without them

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.travelingtoddlerkit1

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.

Potty training with the Inflatable Potty Seat!

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!

Stylish and Personalized Baby Gifts from The Looking Glass

lgtowelEveryone loves getting personalized baby gifts: parents give their kids for a reason–they love the name. And absolutely love celebrating a baby by seeing the name again and again. Want to send a bath or baby necessity personalized? Look no further than The Looking Glass. With cloth products for baby and child such as towels, sheets and blankets, its another great gift to give, and receive.

We received a sample towel made by Swaddle Designs, personalized by The Looking Glass. Loved that it wasn’t a plain, old, boring towel. It had a trendy pattern and color scheme, and the personalization looked great. Definitely filing this shop for future personalized purchases and gifts.

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