February 8, 2012

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.

20% off at Bath and Body Works with Coupon Code S113992

Use coupon code S113992 to receive 20% off your order at Bath & Body Works.

I love their Body Butters and may have to take advantage of this coupon especially since the Body Butters are buy 3, get 2 free.  (Use the coupon and that’s a great deal!)

Natural, Non-Toxic Nail Polish from Piggy Paint

I don’t have girls, but if I did, I can imagine I wouldn’t be to thrilled the idea of putting chemicals on their nails for nail polish.

Piggy Paint is makes all-natural nail polish that’s great for kids – it’s non-toxic and odorless.  This seems like a no brainer to me – especially for young kids who tend to put their hands in their mouths often.

$7.99-$8.99 per bottle of nail polish.  Free shipping on orders over $35 on the PiggyPaint.com site.

Combat Germs with Softsoap’s Liquid Hand Soap & a Kid-Friendly Timer

As I write this, I’m stuck inside with one sick kid.  For the second time in a week, we’ve picked up a bug of some kind that has me cringing from the hidden germs I know are lurking in my house.  It’s this time of year and I know it.  Seems like everyone’s coming down with something.  I always think it’s the whole spring thing – just as it starts to warm up, the germs come out of the woodwork.

I’m a nut about using antibacterials when we’re in public and washing hands often.  Which is why I can appreciate using something like the one the the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Softsoap have teamed up to promote.  Using their “Get Ready” hand washing timer while kids use the Softsoap soap bumps will encourage kids to stay washing their hands for 20 seconds.  A cute song plays while the timer goes off and the kids are engaged with some of the fun bottles that are decorated with characters like Dora & Spongebob.

Get a bottle of Softsoap’s Foam Works from Drugstore.com for $3.79 and don’t forget to encourage your kids to wash their hands often – especially this time of year!  When you don’t have a timer handy, you can always sing.  We sing the alphabet or the state song to encourage longevity at the sink.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hose em Down Without a Hose: Oopsy Daisy No Bath Bubble Bath

oopsysham

As a mom who frequents Disneyland, Legoland, Seaworld and other themeparks where sticky lurks around every corner, I feel it is my duty to share a secret weapon with you. Everywhere we go, along comes Oopsy Daisy No Bath Bubble Bath.

Whether it’s lunch out or snacks on a car trip, or a theme park sugar high, my kids get messy and sticky. I used to schlep pounds of baby wipes but thanks to modern cleanliness technology I can travel lighter with Oopsy Daisy. These products are natural and gentle. They come in a foam dispenser and a little bit of foam goes a long way to clean up a lot of mess. Ice cream drips up to their elbows? Chocolate Chip Cookie face? Fruit leather mask? Seriously, no problem.

If your kid is a clown like mine who likes to wear his bowl of mac and cheese as a chapeau, check out Oopsy Daisy’s other product, High Chair Hair. It is a lifesaver for this sort of situation while dining out.

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.

Shield Against the Bugs with Insect Armor from Vermont Soap Organics

Image and video hosting by TinyPicSummertime and the buggies are biting — so I was thrilled to test out Insect Armor ($6.76 for 4 oz), an organic bug repellent from Vermont Soap Organics. It does not contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) or any other chemicals derived from petroleum, pesticides or neurotoxins.

It does contains lemon, eucalyptus and other natural essential oils, castile liquid soap made with organic oils and rosemary extract preservative (approved for use with organic products), which naturally repellent bugs. It smells exactly like a citronella candle – which I happen to love. We found it repelled the mosquitoes and kept us insect- free. With the natural ingredients, I felt better applying it to my children daily.

Get it online at Vermont Soap Organics.

Nature’s Baby Organics Bath and Body Products will be available at Target and Target.com

Image and video hosting by TinyPicNext week, Nature’s Baby Organics Bath and Body Products will be available in select Target Stores and Target.com. Nature’s Baby Organics products, created by mom of two, Adena Surabian, contain no harsh chemicals and are free of parabens, phlthalates, propylene glycol and synthetic ingredients (including fragrances and colors). 

Target.com is ordering free shipping for Nature’s Baby Organics products if you spend $50 or more. Click here for more retailers who carry Nature’s Baby Organics products.

Smart Girls Who Surf: Sun-Protection Products that are Sun-Worthy

Image and video hosting by TinyPicAs a fair-skinned gal with a history of sun cancer in her family on both sides, I try to always wear sunscreen and also make sure my two kids are protected. I was thrilled to test out some products from Smart Girls Who Surf. While you don’t need to surf to use their products, you’ll love their paraben free and chemical free products.

I was sent their Grab-N-Go Kit ($24.99), which contains FAA approved sizes of their Moisturizing Sunblock with 30 SPF, After Sun Soothing Lotion, Care for Hair Sun Protector (SPF 7), their natural glycerin Soap for Surfers, a single serve packet of their sunblock (great for your purse), an SPF 15 all natural lip balm (you’ll get either Vanilla or Cherry) and a black comb. It comes in a small, cute reusable small plastic tote.

My favorite products were their Moisturizing Sunblock and the Care for Hair Sun Protector. The Moisturizing Sunblock, with an SPF 30 for Face and Body is creamy, not greasy, and won’t sting your eyes. The 2 ounce size fit handily in my diaper bag. With UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of 30, it’s water resistant and hypoallergenic. Sunblock should be applied 20 minutes before you go outside, so it can soak into skin and reapplied every two hours that you are in the sun. For more info on preventing skin cancer, go to skincancer.org.

Care for Hair Sun Protector is a leave-in conditioner and detangler that contains 6 conditioning agents (vitamins A, C, B1, B3, Arica Montana Flower extract and soy protein). Spritz this on your ponytail before you head out into the sun to help keep hair healthy.

Smart Girls Who Surf is a natural skin care company in Laguna Beach, California. It was started several years ago as a mother’s quest for a healthy alternative to sunscreens on the market. The company creates earth-friendly products without using toxic chemicals or synthetic preservatives. The company also gives back – they support several non-profit organizations, including Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC), Surfrider Foundation, Girls, Inc., and SchoolPower, the Laguna Beach Education Foundation, as well as donating product to shelters. Their two product lines, Smart Girls Who Surf and Surf-Vival are tested on surfers and parents, not animals. A kids line called Smart Kids Who Surf is coming soon.

Shop online or find a retailer here.

Exclusive discount for MWS Readers: Use code MWS709 for a 15% discount on online purchases. Expires on August 20th, 2009.

Natural Substance Baby Screen is exactly what this mama ordered

substanceAhhh… summer. Sprinklers, swimming pools, sundaes and … sunburn. Okay, I can do without the latter. I’m always willing to try out a new sunscren that the kids won’t mind, and neither will I, to protect their cute little faces and perfect skin.

Substance Baby Natural Sunscreen has an SPF 30 and includes zinc oxide–making for an even stronger sun barrier. We love that, in addition to the zinc and the SPF, its chemical free which offers a lot of reassurance–I know what is going on my kids’ skin.  It also happens to be waterproof, a necessity for my little fishies. With lots of extra herbal oils to moisturize their skin while protecting, it leaves feels good on my hands after apply. And the scent is nothing insulting and chemically–its a mix of citrus and mint. Yum!

Maternitique has Substance Baby Natural Sunscreen on sale through July 31. Additionally, use code MWS for 10% off any purchase of $10 or more.

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