It happens to the best babies. The public blowout, the sudden spit up, the mashed potato mess. And though you try and prepare yourself for the inevitable, it's easy to get caught out without a change of clothes. Even veteran diaper bag packers such as myself have been known to dress their poor soiled babies in little more than a paper napkin and rush home for a change. For shame!
The problem I had in the past was not having a designated disaster preparedness kit like the one that Baby Sparewear so excellently puts together. Sure I have been known to toss an extra tee in the bag, but then my husband uses it and I forget to check when I head out on the next trip and we all know this story has a baby wearing a paper napkin at the end, right? And do you like how I blamed my husband?
The Baby Sparewear kit ($30-$52) comes pre-packed in it's own handy little pouch. Inside you get two tops and a bottom. The clothing is soft and thin and the packed pouch is stylish, sleek and unbulky.Toss one of these in your diaper bag or stash one in your glove compartment and you are good to go. No more leaving the house unprepared. And just to be on the safe side around my stash-raiding hubby, I'm going to be sure to pack a spare Baby Sparewear set in the daddy bag. We currently have the Fashion Fix Cordura Chic set in sky blue ($52). My only concern about it is that the clothes are so soft and adorable that I find myself half hoping the baby will barf on himself so I can change him into them. A little twisted, no?
Hat's On to Breastfeeding Moms with MoBoLeez Nursing Bonnets
I thought I had seen it all when it came to nursing cover ups. Basically I thought there were only three varieties: the apron, the blanket/shawl and the poncho. But I was wrong! Because a very, very clever mom has come up with a whole new way to cover up when nursing your baby in public. You might even say that she came up with it right off the top of her head ... the MoBoleez is brilliant!
All kidding aside, when I saw this product I had to crack a great big giant grin. I never would have thought of using a wide brimmed hat to cover my breast while nursing but it makes perfect sense. And it works just perfectly. The reason it works so well is the careful way the hat is crafted. The super soft knit cotton brim is just wide enough, just stable enough and weighted just right to drape perfectly around your exposed breast. Even over my generously sized DD's. The baby's head is loosely covered and the brim sits away from his face so there is plenty of room to breathe. The logo on the outside is cute and simple and the message on the inside of the brim "hi mummy" is a sweet little for-your-eyes-only reminder that your baby loves you for taking such good care of him.
I love using this hat so much more than any of the blanket/poncho/apron style cover ups. It only covers the area that needs covering, and thus your baby is not smothered, you are not likely to overheat and you don't feel awkwardly draped. I never really got the hang of nursing with other cover ups and as a result, have inadvertently exposed myself more times then I could count, whilst breastfeeding over the years. Too bad for any curious lookie-loos who missed out on that sight! Much to the relief of my oldest daughter, and all thanks to MoBoleez, those days are over.
Note, I tested this product out while going over a quote for home improvements with my macho-dude, single and childless general contractor, a guy who really would rather not watch me breastfeed. This was a serious test! And no worries for any of us. I've now got a Moboleez hat tucked into my diaper bag and it is on my short list of fabulous shower presents.
Gorgeous custom-made boutique items for baby (and a way to help save the earth!)
I don't think I can ever get enough of gorgeous fabrics made into amazing and functional clothing and decor items for me and my kids. When I saw the Paisley Baby site, I knew it would be just in line with the kind of well-made, beautiful types of products I look for.
When I received my package, I was so excited to open it. Beautifully wrapped in colorful tissue with matching ribbon and an adorable hand-crotched card, I knew these items were something special.
The hooded towel set, with 2 matching wash clothes, makes the perfect gift for a new baby. Sweet and simple with beautiful fabrics, this is a gift that not only looks great, but is functional, too. Paisley Baby also makes other gorgeous items for baby, like bibs, burp cloths, blankets, changing pads, wet bags, and more.
Paisley Baby also makes all different kinds of bags, but I especially love the market bags. These bags give you a very stylish way to carry around groceries, your clothing returns, and other purchases without wasting costly and environmentally-unfriendly bags. Created in the latest colors and prints, they are cut slightly smaller than the cloth shopping bags sold at grocery and big box stores. This way you can fill them up and still carry them without too much bulk. What a great product to help you do some good for the environment in celebration of Earth Day!
Make a purchase and receive 10% off with code MWS. You can also receive free shipping on orders over $100.
Does this sound familiar? You have a baby gift to get out and so during naptime you hop online to shops a,b,and z and are overwhelmed with the choices. You thought you'd send an outfit but before you know it, you are in too deep, overwhelmed with choices (good and some not so good) and before you know it an hour has passed, your own little one is wide awake and demanding lunch and you still need to get a baby gift out.
This is why I like the Alex Casey site. Simple, uncluttered, easy to navigate and every item in good taste. You can get in and out with the excellent goods you need in no time at all. Which means you can spend the rest of naptime shopping online for yourself or chatting and shopping with your super pals on the MWS boards!
For my own gifting needs and for dressing my own infant son, I'm loving the BabyStar collection at Alex Casey. The pop art prints on these soft cotton pieces is mod and fresh. And the blue dots on the Tag Blue pieces make my little guy's blue eyes really pop.
Mommies with Style: For the next two weeks, get 15% off your order with Coupon Code MWS. Alex Casey offers free shipping on all orders over $150 and ships all over the world.
Lets get one thing straight. I'm not all that crunchy. I have no beef (or tofurky as the case may be) with crunchy folks but my ongoing attachment to my flatiron sort of prevents me from ever being labelled granola. Nevertheless, I have a healthy amount of guilt/concern about all the non-biodegradable disposible diaper refuse that my three kids created. So for #4 I vowed to try cloth. It sounds altruistic of me, and it is. Mostly. But to be completely honest it happened right after I saw how cute cloth diapering has become - the minky fabrics, the soft microfibers and cottony soft velour. What's not to love? Uh, washing a bunch of poopy diapers sprang to mind. Well it turns out that it's not all that bad.
The first cloth diapers we began to use withour tiny bottomed newborn were from Blueberry Diapers. They were the perfect starters because they were the only ones that fit and did not leak or make him look like an oompa loompa with a bad case of junk-in-the-trunkitis. Much as one size diapers are economical, they are also comically bulky on a newborn. Blueberry offers a nice assortment of styles with either snaps or velcro.
We started out with a variety of Blueberry products but fell in love with their all in ones with snaps. These are the perfect intro to cloth diapers, it turns out. Word to the cloth-curious, these are essentially the same thing as a disposible, fit and use-wise. Except instead of throwing it away, you wash and reuse it. Speaking of wash - they wash beautifully with no pretreating, no soaking, no stress and most importantly, no touching. In far less time than it takes to empty a seriously rank diaper genie, and haul that nasty plastic poop sausage to the curb, I have dumped my wetbag full of soiled cloth diapers inside out into the washer, put in two squirts of a gentle organic soap and hit the button for the hot cycle.
Consider Blueberry's all-in-ones your gateway diaper. Once you realize you can do this, you graduate to the other cute and customizable stuff. It's sort of like going from a point and click camera to an SLR. With their pocket diapers, fitted diapers and diaper covers, you can customize/tailor the fit and absorbancy of your diapering system to your baby's body type and wetness levels.
Blueberry Diapers currently has an amazing buy two, get two free sale going on right now. Hop on over to grab a deal while supplies last.
I just love that the number of earth-friendly and organic products for babies is growing by leaps and bounds every day. Here's the latest I've heard about: Natural Mat crib mattresses.
What's not to love. All Natural Mat products are 100% natural. Not to mention that they are 100% non-allergic, all hand-made and 100% biodegradable. The product is from the UK, but you can order from BareBabies here in the US and Canada for free shipping on orders over $99. Select the Coco Mat (made out of organic coconut fibers - $375), Latex Mat (their most hypo-allergic mattress, made from a rubber tree - $575) or Mohair Mat (firm for back support, made out of horsetail hair - $625) - all organic.
Use coupon code MWSNM10OFF for 10% off any Natural Mat product (plus the free shipping) at Bare Babies. Expires April 30th.
Q: You are about to be stranded on a desert island and can only bring one piece of baby paraphenalia with you. What do you bring?
A: The Graco Sweetpeace (and a whole lot of batteries if there are no plugs!)
No question about it, if there is one piece of baby gear that I don't think I could live without at the moment, it is the Sweetpeace by Graco ($169.99). If you'd asked me this question a few years ago when my older kids were infants, I might have hesitated, and said a swing. But there is no hesitation now. The Sweetpeace is so much more than a swing. It is a whole baby (and parent... trust me!) soothing "system". It has motion in common with a swing, but from there on out, comparing it to an old school swing is like comparing your new mac laptop to a calulator.
The Sweetpeace was designed to mimic the swaying motion that your baby enjoys in the womb, or when cradled/rocked in your arms. Multiple positions allow you to tailor the motion to your babies' preference - side to side or back to front, head facing in or out. Multiple speeds also allow you choose how fast or slow, baby sways. You can also adjust the angle at which baby sits, from reclined to more upright. Check out this video product tour for a look at the way the Sweetpeace moves to soothe your baby.
In addition to the motion, the Sweetpeace offers a variety of soothing sounds. Our baby boy likes the heartbeat and swooshing sounds that mimic the sounds of the womb. When he is older, we will put the included music to the test.
But if he's not a fan of the included tunes, no worries. We can simply plug in our ipod to the Sweetpeace's ipod outlet and suddenly this seat gets a little sweeter. Even when baby's not sitting in it, it plays our music and I have to say, the sound quality is not half bad!
Perhaps taking this seat with me to a desert island seems a little frivolous but not when you factor in the many uses. Our baby can sleep in the Sweetpeace, be entertained in the Sweetpeace, and when he is a little older, he could even be fed in the Sweetpeace. It's practically the perfect place to put him down. And let's face it, as much as we love and adore our babies, we do eventually have to put them down. If you've ever dealt with a colicky baby, you will especially appreciate the magical soothing properties this device has. Right after you manage to catch a few hours of precious shut eye. When combined with the included swaddling blanket and pacifier, it's almost foolproof. I credit every single four hr stretch of sleep I have had in the last month (and my ability to string together a sentence) to Graco.
Additional reasons to love the Sweetpeace? It's got a smaller footprint than most swings, the colors are neutral and the fabrics very soft and plush, and as long as you are able to place it near an outlet, you won't have to buy batteries at the big box store. Hurray for the AC plug.
Finally, the Graco Sweetpeace Soothing System offers parents excellent baby soothing advice and instruction on their site. This education and support material can be invaluable to the sleep deprived parent of a colicky baby. By bringing in baby soothing experts and providing this material, Graco shows a level of commitment that is unmatched by other companies.
I'd recommend this item to any and every new parent out there. It's truly #1 on my must have list. Click through for links of where to purchase the Graco Sweetpeace.
Last year there had been discussion in the news about bibs containing lead and PVC, and we all know how dangerous these can be for our children. So when I heard about Just Buzzin’ By’s line of PVC-free infant and toddler meal accessories, I became very interested in finding out more.
Just Buzzin’ By offers an awesome line of splat mats, bibs and placemats that are PVC-free, phthalate-free, lead-free and environmentally-friendly. They are made from non-toxic laminated designer fabrics that are hip and beautiful. Their mealtime accessories are wipeable, and the bibs and placemats are machine-washable as well. The splat mats are hand-washable.
I hate cleaning my son’s bib. I usually shake the bib upside down to get out all of the crumbs and then I clean it by running it under the faucet, where the pocket fills up with soapy water to clean it. Well not anymore!!! I LOVE the reversible bibs! My FAVORITE feature is the unique snap-pocket, which catches the food that is constantly falling out of my son’s hands (when he misses his mouth) and unsnaps for the removal of crumbs and for easy cleaning. No more food bits stuck inside the bib pocket! I have never seen a bib so functional and hip! It is generously sized to fit tots of all sizes and don’t forget it's machine-washable!
The placemats are 15” x 17” which makes them a perfect size to protect surfaces at home or on the road. The mats also fold up neatly for storage and transport. They are flexible and durable so they won’t crack or split when folded over and over again. Like all products Just Buzzin’ By carries, the placemats are non-toxic and free from PVC, phthalate and lead so that food can be eaten right off the placemat without worry.
The multi-functional splat mats are perfect for under high chairs and tables to catch those unwanted spills and messes. It saves our carpet every time! Generously sized at 36" x 44", the splat mats are made with their unique non-toxic laminated fabric top and sturdy oilcloth bottom to prevent sliding around on floors. Another great use for the splat mats are for art projects which protect tables and floors from paint, markers, clay, etc. They are totally portable and lightweight and can even be used outdoors as a sit-upon (no more grass stains!). They can even be placed in car trunks to protect from dirt, sand, pet hair, etc. Perfect when I buy plants to keep the dirt from getting in my trunk! With a multitude of uses, Just Buzzin' By'ssplat mats are a must-have!
For every product they sell, a donation is made to various children’s charities. The company strongly believes in giving back to those less fortunate, specifically children.
Free of PVC, phthalates and lead, the bibs, placemats and splat mats keep meal time messes safe and to a minimum. With over 20 prints ranging from classic, retro, modern, vintage and edgy there is sure to be a print that you will love!
Currently, the site is taking orders via phone (949.916.9871) or email. In a week, you will be able to purchase online directly through their website. Mention or use the code MWS20 to save 20% off of your order!
Working on "baby's" nursery--this "might" be one stylin' babe
No, I'm not pregnant, and should I become so, rest assured you'll be one of the first to know.
But should I become pregnant, this time I'd like to find out. Yes, I'm talking gender. And, for now, I'm tempted to find out because in my guest room (ie possible future nursery) is a very mod, very chic, 5-piece set of baby bedding for an adorable little girl Skip*Hop's Vine Floral collection.
Skip*Hop recently sent over their newest addition to their product listing. Included in the 5-piece set are a 36x42 inch comforter, bumper, 2 fitted crib sheets (one solid, one patterned) and a (get this!) reversible cribskirt. (I just love that its reversible--talk about a clever piece to change up a look.)
Not surprisingly, the quality is stellar. And the price, extremely reasonable. You're getting all 5 pieces for less than $250. But back to the quality--all pieces are 100% cotton and have a 385 thread count; soft enough for my future possible baby. I love the thickness of the bumper and comforter, too. Some bumpers have a way of scrunching down with gravity, over time. But the Skip*Hop's filling is thick enough that I don't see gravity having much effect--in between the 2 sides of the bumper is about 1 inch of filling. And I adore the comforter. On the one side is the theme fabric. The reverse is a minkee-like polyester plush velour (too much of a mouthful, so just keep in mind super soft.)
The flowers are light and salmon pinks, and the vine-colors range green and brown. So its a mod look in preppy colors. Very stylin'. The set looks great against nearly any color wall--on Skip*Hop's site they show it against a brown and white setting. Yet I've displayed it in a pale yellow room and it pops and still looks fantastic.
As for accessories, keep with the theme and you'll find a matching pillow, lamp and shade, baby blanket and a wall organizer.
Alas, should the possible future baby be a boy, I think its time to put away the sailboat bedding I used for both C & W. Skip*Hop also introduced a gender-neutral (with a small sway to the male) Mod Dot Collection. All the same features and qualities.
Want a set? No problem! Check MWS next week for news of how to win your own Vine Floral Skip*Hop Bedding Collection. Or just head over to Skip*Hop's website and place your order. Seriously, mix the price with the quality and you just can't pass this up. Even if you aren't really pregnant!
While you're purchasing at Skip*Hop, hop over to their diaper bags. They introduced 2 fun springy fabrics (blossom and pink links) last month--and if you love the Vine Flower, trust me, these bags are screaming for you.)
Neither of my kids like water poured over their heads at the end of a bath when I'm trying to rinse everything off (Is there any kid out there that does?) They suffer through it - luckily neither are big screamers, but I definitely get yelled at more often than not.
So when we recently tested out a Lil' Rinser hair/head product for the bath to help protect their eyes from the water, they were thrilled. Not only did it work to detour the water away from their eyes and down their backs, but they actually think it's funny and fun to do. Yay.
It's more or less a visor that you hold right at the hairline of your child's forehead, and it deflects the water from the front to down their back. (You can watch a little educational video on the site to see how it works.) Cole (17 months) actually giggles every time I do it.
It's $9.99 plus shipping to the US on the Lil' Rinser site but go through the link provided to receive 10% off and get the rinser for $8.99.
I'm about to take on a new challenge with this new baby. I'm planning to give cloth diapering a try. And with this endeavor comes a whole host of unfamiliar equipment and supplies, some with terms I have never heard of before. One of these items is a "wet bag". This is essentially a waterproof bag, designed to hold wet diapers or wet clothes, in your diaper bag, until you get them home to wash them. Who knew that an item designed to hold your dirties, could be so adorable? Well it can be - at least when you order your Wet Happened wet bag from Jamie at Minimebabygear.
Now just to be clear, you certainly don't need to be a cloth diaperer to need one of these bags. I sure wish I had discovered mine sooner. When I think of all the damp and soiled clothes I've shoved into ziplocs in my diaper bag over the yrs, I am just sadder I did not have a more stylish, eco-friendly and practical solution sooner.
Available in a number of stylish prints to match your bag/stoller/mood and suit your needs, the wet bag will serve you well, and serve the environment too. Just throw the bag in the wash along with the contents and reuse reuse reuse.
Mommies With Style save 10% when you use the coupon code MINIME.
There is nothing so sweet as a freshly swaddled infant, wrapped in an airy cotton blankie, is there?
But for many, the art of swaddling is a daunting challenge. It seems impossible to get the baby contained in the blanket and an exercise in soothing quickly becomes a stressful baby wrestling match that ends in tears for all involved.
It doesn't have to be this way. A little instruction goes a long way. Which is why I love the Luna Luna Soothing Blankets. These muslin wraps come in utterly adorable prints and patterns (we love "To the Moon" which is also a favorite of Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen for baby Olive), but they also come with an all important educational dvd that teaches you how to use the blankets swaddle and soothe your baby. And what's more, the dvd has an audio portion with the white noise that so many fussy babies need to get their calm on.
If you are a new parent or parent to be, this is a package worth picking up! The DVD is worth watching before the baby even arrives so you are familiar with the swaddling techniques. Impress the nurses at the hospital! If you have ever had a child with colic and are looking for a complete soothing system, you should also check out the bounce-a-bye ball from Luna Lullaby that we recently reviewed.
Even if you decide that swaddling is not for your baby, you will find a hundred and one uses for these delightful muslin wraps. Use them as a stroller cover, use them as a light airy cover up for nursing in public, an impromtu burp cloth, or as the perfect summer cover for a baby that will not cause them to overheat.
Buy your swaddlers directly from the Luna Lullaby website, and choose from nine adorable color/pattern combos.
It was no sooner had I said that it was a light winter with little illnesses that we suddenly got hit with the plague. (Or what felt like the plague) The flu for me, the stomach bug for the kids, and a couple of runny noses that lasted weeks. It all hit in February - we had been doing so well until then.
I quickly tried to combat the germs with a couple of things, one of which I thought worth noting was with the Vicks Germ Free Humidifier. I was kind of lax running our old humidifier this winter - (Nate has the frog one from Target in his room but I have a bigger one I typically run out in the upstairs hallway). Anyway, it apparently uses ultraviolet light to ensure that 100% of the mist coming out of the humidifier is germ-free. Which is nice if it works as my filters get disgusting and God-knows-what's blowing out of the other ones. And unlike other humidifiers, the sound it makes is actually kind of soothing - the water boiling inside sounds kind of like a creek or stream.
So I don't know if it actually worked the cold thing. We're back from a recent trip to Florida, so that helped, but no one has runny noses at this point. Let's hope that now that the hint of spring is here, we stay that way.
You can find the Vicks Germ Free Humidifier at Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Target and various other retailers. It retails for $89.99.
Looking for a shower or new baby gift for the mom to be that pampers both the mom and the baby? Organically even? Then check out this adorably packaged Mommy and Me gift set from Eura Le. This little bundle of goodness matches up organic diapers, and an organic teething toy for the baby, with a pair of pretty crystal earrings for Mom.
The presentation is gorgeous and makes for a very thoughtful package that any new mom is sure to love. I just love the pairing of the crystal earrings with the earth friendly goodies - a little inspiration to tap into the earth mama within us all. The included diapers are from the Seventh Generation line of chlorine bleach free diapers, and the toy is by Under The Nile. The earrings are unique to Eura Le - check out their other jewelry designs on the site as the gift package can be tailored to your requests.
Mommies With Style Save 20% when you address an email to eurale@aol.com with your order!
The other day I was out with my son and a friend for lunch when I reached into my diaper bag and realized that I didn’t have any bibs inside! Immediately, thoughts came rushing through my head of how disastrous and messy this lunch would now be for my son! After all, he is now 10 months and when he starts eating, the food starts flying! He shoves food into his mouth so quickly and half of it usually goes down his bib. I stopped to see if I had my new Bébe Belay in my diaper bag. After panic nearly set in, I finally spotted it and attached it to a large napkin to be placed around my son’s neck. I was SO thrilled that my son’s shirt was saved for that day!
Bébe Belay is an awesome, multi-functional baby accessory that serves as an instant bib, connector clip, and pacifier holder! It takes up practically no space but can perform the tasks of an all-in-one! It reminds me of the type of connector when you go to the dentist office and they clip a bib on you. Although, this is much prettier and hipper looking and, it can do more than just sit there on your chest while you get your teeth cleaned! If you have a toddler who doesn’t wear bibs or use pacifiers anymore, you can use it to connect mittens! The Bébe Belay has a clear plastic length adjuster, and is approximately 10 inches long when fully extended. It includes one ribbon tab located on the back side, closer to one end. The plastic clips are semi-locking, meaning they contain gripping teeth and lock in place.
So the next time you reach into your diaper bag and realize you are sans-bibs, just think no problem with your Bébe Belay! Click here to pick one up!
Fall in love with one of the pieces at A is for Art (we have both Polka Dogs and Pirate Ship) and you won't find it hard to coordinate with a child's room. The colors are vibrant, the images full of life, and full of stories to be told. Finding an inspiration piece for your child's new room isn't hard when you're shopping at A is for Art. This online art gallery features sophisicated yet fun and child-friendly artwork as well as commissions. Its so easy to select a favorite from the variety, which can be purchased as canvases, murals or rugs.
Representing several children's artists, A is for Art is offering a Mommies with Style a special: receive 20% off with code MWS20.
Adiri Natural Nursers Turn the Baby Bottle Concept Upside Down
It's so nice when someone comes along and completely (and cleverly) re-designs something so commonplace, that no-one has really considered it in a while. Such as the baby bottle. Sure there have been variations on nipple size and all kinds of innovations to reduce bubbles. And more recently we've seen a reaction to the bisphenol-a leaching polycarbonate bottles, in the form of new and improved bisphenol-a free bottles. Many companies are actually looking backwards, bringing back the old classic such as the glass bottle of our youth.
But only Adiri is looking forward with a completely new and different type of baby bottle. It's so unique, it's turned the whole concept upside down.
Looking at the bottle you would not immediately recognize how different it is. Sure it looks sleek and modern, but it was not till I had one in my hands to play with that I realized this was not just a style thing - it was more than that. So what's the big deal and how is it different than a regular bottle?
1. There's no nipple that comes off and promptly gets lost under the blades in your dishwasher. With traditional bottles, you have a rubber or silicon nipple that is fitted under a ring that screws onto the bottle. Regardless of brand, size etc, this is what you get with 99.9% of the companies out there. Not Adiri. With Adiri the nipple is actually integrated into the body of the bottle, and is attached seamlessly to the chassis. What this means for the baby is that the entire top of the bottle is soft and globelike. Just like a boob. Which apparantly, babies are quite fond of!
2. It's upside down. Or the traditional bottles are. You decide. With traditional bottles, you fill from the business (nipple) end of the bottle. With Adiri, you fill from the opposite side. What would normally be called the bottom of a traditional bottle, is the part that screws off on an Adiri. Contained in the screwed off part is a silicon petal shaped vent that eliminates air bubbles - so never fear, you don't have to risk struggling with a gassy lassy if you decide to go with these bottles. Before you fill the bottle, you put on the travel cap, which seals off the nipple end and keeps the bottle clean and leak free during outings as well. Set the bottle down and fill, twist on the bottom to seal, and feed. The opening on the bottom for filling is nice and wide, which is particularly handy when you are pouring liquid (such as stored breast milk) out of a storage bag. It is easy enough to even fill this one handed!
3. It has fewer parts. Because the nipple is an integral part of the bottle, there are fewer tiny parts to wash and lose. Much like traditional bottles, Adiri bottles offer nipples with three flow varieties. Unlike traditional bottles, you will need to purchase a whole new bottle at each stage, rather than swap out the nipples. Personally I think it is worth it, because these bottles are so cool and revolutionary both in looks and function. They are color coded for each stage.
Adiri bottles are the product of several stages of research and design. They are quite the labor of love, and it shows. Apart from being bisphenol-a and polycarbonatefree, and looking so fabulous, they are the only baby bottle on the market that comes close to truly mimicking the shape of the human breast. So I guess in a way they went back too, even farther back than the glass bottle. But with their state of the art style, it's nothing but progress.
Delicious in the cute baby shower gift-giving way: Dlish
It's all about packaging: a cute product in an even cuter package, and I'm sold. Dlish Baby Clothes offers both. Four solid colored onesies with prints of kids' favorite foods (PB&J, Mac & Cheese, Peas & Carrots and Fruit Punch) are rolled up and packed in a silver lunchbox.
They don't offer online sales, but you can purchase by emailing info@dlishbaby.com and mentioning FINLEY as the coupon code to receive 25% off the purchase price ($50) and free shipping. Or you can order online from Babesta.com (coupon code not valid there).
From the same makers of the Cariboo bassinet (which Jen reviewed last summer), comes the Cariboo Puretec Blanket. Cariboo is out of New Zealand and they make kid and earth-friendly products. Their stuff is gorgeous - earthy tones, simple designs and best of all eco-friendly.
The blanket is 100% natural, and just simple and comfy, as it should be for an infant. The best price I found online was on Baby Ride - it's $99.95 for a small and $159.95 for large. It comes in colors Cream, Blue, Pink, Sage and Chocolate.
Use coupon code Winter 08 for $5 off your order of $50 or more. Shipping is free on orders over $100.
Jen was the one who first introduced me to QuickZip crib sheets. So you guys know how annoying it is when you have to change the crib sheet? Or worse, have to put a new one on? I know here I'm constantly annoyed, pulling and pushing, trying to fit the sheet around each corner of the mattress while bumping into the sides of the cribs. And it's even worse with the crib bumper on, I'm pulling, pushing, twisting and ready to scream most of the time.
Made by company Cloud & Stars, QuickZip sheets alleviate all the aforementioned frustrations just how they sound they do - the zip right on and off. You put the sheet around the corners and in theory don't have to remove that part for a long time. The part of the sheet that lays flat on the crib zips on and off for easy washing. This is so handy in the middle of the night when a diaper leaks, someone pukes or you're just in a hurry. They make them in all kinds of choices including gingham.
Use coupon code MWS051508 for a 10% discount good through 5/15/08.
When my three year old son was born, we started our love affair with the Soothie line of Pacifiers. We'd picked one up in the hospital and a savvy nurse advised us to take home a few extra, seeing as how our newborn son loved them immediately. That first week those three soothies were like solid gold. When the dog decided she liked them almost as much as the baby, I had my first new mom panic attack.
If only we'd had some Wubbanubs, we would have been so much better off!
Back then Soothie Pacifiers were not sold at any stores in my area. I heard a rumor that Walmart had some but everytime I made a pilgrimage to the local Walmart store, the shelves were bare and I came home sans soothie. Down to our last precious binky, I ended up ordering a full case of them (shipped overnight!) from a medical supply company. Forty binkies to be precise. Which was a good thing since they did have a tendency to fall, bounce and roll like no other binky we'd ever tried. Gone in a flash. I imagine us leaving a virtual trail of green silicon pacis, whereever we went. They are still turning up three years later, in closets and under dressers.
With my current baby I am going in prepared. Prepared not only with a (now much easier to find) stash of the original pacis, but with the new twist on them - the sanity saving Wubbanub!
Wubbanubs are nothing short of brilliant. They are small babysafe stuffies with the all important Soothie paci sewn right into the seams. Their design has been approved by the JPMA and has been put through the most vigourous of safety standards. The slight weight of the animal keeps the soothie in place near your child (and hopefully off the floor and away from the dog!). The attached toy also provides added comfort and makes it so much easier for your baby to grasp and manipulate that pacifier themselves. It also means fewer bouncing, rolling, and lost pacis and less rooting around in the bed, stroller, bag etc to find where the paci went.
Celebrity moms love Wubbanubs. Denise Richards,Joely Fisher, Ricki Lake and Angela Bassett are all fans. Purchase yours at the Soothie Pacifier Store. You can choose from one of six adorable designs or order the entire set.
Inca Kids offers Adorable, Fair Trade Toys and Clothes
Looking for a gift that stands out? Sick of the mass market and want to give a gift that feels a little more personal, hands on and earth friendly to boot?
Inca Kids offers fair trade, hand made and fashionable apparel, accessories, and artisan toys. Their products are made of natural fibers and materials such as the 100% alpaca or ovine wool and 100% cotton that are their trademark in apparel and accessories.
Their line of toys include more than 25 hand knitted finger puppets characters (from a butterfly to a fireman, a llama to a clown fish), traditional musical instruments. Their charming line of "Arpillera" items include a storybook, a mobile, a backpack, a small bag and tapestries.
The "Arpilleras" are exquisitely detailed hand-sewn three dimensional textile pictures that illustrate the stories of the lives of the people in Peru: Stories of planting and harvesting, stories of spinning and weaving wool; stories of country life, of tending llamas, sheep and goats; stories of weddings and fiestas. Their artists painstakingly handstitch every single detail.
All the Inca Kids products are crafted by unprivileged Peruvian artisans in different parts of the country. Many of them work in cooperatives located in the dusty shantytowns of poor and displaced families that ring the capital city of Lima with unemployment near 80% and few sources of income. Their project, provides a fair wage to artisans allowing them to support their families and educate their children, providing a little better living standard.
I was extremely impressed with the gorgeous quality and craftmanship of the items I received from Inca Kids. They are heirloom items and the hand knit items are incredibly soft to the touch. The finger puppets are just adorable!
Mommies with Style Save 10% when you enter the Coupon Code STYLE. Additionally, orders over $100 will receive two free finger puppets!
I get very intimidated by decorating my home. Especially when it comes to hanging something on my walls. What if it doesn't look right? What if I hate it after a month or two? I'll be left with holes in the wall, not to mention my pockets.
That's not such a problem any longer. With Roommates, peel and stick the wallart onto nearly any hard surface, and, voila, you have art! Don't love it there? No problem, even a child can remove these appliques without ruining paint or a surface. We recently played with a few packs in our basement and our 4 year old's room. The kids put the stickers where they wanted them. Wesley, my 2-year-old, liked the idea of putting all of his in his own little area (he's our orderly child who likes things in a line and is very focused.) While Carson, our 4-year-old who doesn't sit still for long, stuck his appliques all over the room--we had soccer balls on chairs, a baseball on the basketball backboard, a collection on the kids' computer. After a while of decorating and redecorating, I left the room to take a phone call. Only to find the computer screen clear of all appliques with them now scattered across the walls.
Later that night, Carson found another package of Roommates. With these, he and his brother decorated his room--including his mirror, wall, windows and bedboard. And better than paper stickers, since they did this one their own, Roommates appliques don't rip! (Oh, and did I mention they don't pull off paint or leave a sticky residue? -- much to the chagrin of my father-in-law who has already been asked to repaint a few spots that were pulled off due to stickers before we knew about Roommates.)
For the price, this is more than a great decoration for your walls, its a toy that allows the kids to join in on making their spaces their own. The stickers show up better on lighter paint, as the appliques are not fully opaque, but that doesn't stop Carson's dark blue room from being covered in space Roommates. In addition to the stickers, also available are borders, wall murals and growth charts and they're inexpensive enough to select the alphabet today, Bratz in a few years and Penn State Nittany Lions in the future.
In my never-ending search for adorable kid’s shoes, my latest find are hip soft soled shoes for my 9-month old. We received the “Skulls” shoes in black/white (which also come in pink/black) and it has made my son even more hip! The shoes feature embroidered skulls on soft canvas and feature a discreet piece of elastic above the heel designed to help keep the shoes on – an issue with all of our other soft-soled shoes! A nylon heel pull with reinforced stitching is provided to aide in getting shoes on and off in seconds. The sole is made of soft, non-slip canvas with a thin foam cushion insert. The inside of the shoe is fully lined with 100% cotton fabric. On the bottom of one of the soles it says, “Caution!! Makes Wide Turns,” which is perfect for my crawling tot. These shoes are really cool! Sizes are available in small, which is approximately for 3-6 month olds with a shoe size of 1-2, and in medium, which is for 6-12 month olds with a shoe size of 3-4.
Sweet Grass: Natural and affordable skincare for babies
You'll find natural products at reasonable prices from down-to-earth company, Sweet Grass. Of particular interest is their Farm baby line.
My favorite is the nursery spray - it's made with lavender oil and has just a faint but sweet smell. I've been spraying it after poopy diaper changes and it definitely makes the room smell much nicer in a matter of seconds! They also have a baby lotion, baby wash, bottom cream and baby powder.
They have some nice non-baby items too including soy candles, fragrance sticks, soaps and body care.
Use coupon code 78235 for 20% off your order through March 30, 2008.
It came with me to the hospital, supported me when I held and nursed my newborn baby and has been my constant companion ever since. It even rests next to me at night, ready to 'give a lift' through those all too frequent nightime feeding sessions. Am I speaking of my dear hubby? A best friend or even my Mom? Oh no, this companion is even more loyal (and best of all, doesn't have any opinions or advice.) Why, it's my Cuddoozle Nursing Pillow, of course!
Cuddoozle (previously known as Naturally Norcott, Inc.) is where form and function meet to create fabulous products. Their range of Body Pillows, Maternity Wedges, Back Support Cushions, All-In-One Totes, and even Hooded Towels are all designed to support mothers and babies in every way.
Cuddoozle offers the “Original” Memory Foam Baby Nursing Pillow, which I feel is a must for every new Mom, whether breast or bottle feeding, due to the excellent support it offers for both baby and Mom... or Dad, or whoever is holding or feeding the baby. Trust me they'll thank you when you share your Cuddoozle. The Patent Pending three layered Memory Foam Baby Nursing Pillow provides the ultimate in comfort and gentle support. Unlike other pillows it is 'roomy' and doesn't sqeeze around the tender tummys of new Mommys. It also provides a nice level suface for baby to sit or lay while feeding or just holding, which is good because with rounded-top nursing pillows the baby can tend to roll too much into, or away from, the person feeeding him.
The icing on the cake of your Cuddoozle pillow though, is that it is naturally hypoallergenic! For extra defense, they've added a patent pending permanent, wipe away, breathable inner cover, which is Anti-mite, Anti-dust, Anti-microbial, hypoallergenic and waterproof. You can also flip flop the Nursing Pillow. No matter which way you wrap it around your waist, it is always the right side up. It also comes with an additional mulit purpose pillow to elevate your baby to correct breastfeeding height, to incline for reflux babies, to serve as an additional arm rest or even to use behind your back or head for support. There are carry straps on both pillows for easy toting while you're holding baby too. Convenient little side pockets are great for storing small accessories, like pacifiers (or even your phone or remote control.) The Cuddoozle's removable outer cover is also machine washable and comes in a varierty of cute fabrics.
Click here to order by fax or e-mail (use code: TMMWS for 10% off), or to find a retail location near you.
Does your child love to teeth on just about anything these days? My son has been teething for months now and always goes for the remote, phone and just about ANYTHING he can get his mouth on. I don’t remember my daughter mouthing at everything, but I do have a horrible memory! So, I tested out a SoRa Charm necklace which has a sterling silver charm attached to a piece of 30” black silk chord that allows babies to touch and explore or place in their mouths for teething gums.
SoRa Charms are beautiful sterling silver necklaces that double as a teething ring/rattle. This fashionable, uniquely-designed accessory is made of 100 percent sterling silver – an antibacterial material (unlike your car keys!) and therefore safe to put in baby’s mouths. Best of all, it won’t fall on the floor! Plus, every charm has a rattle inside to provide pure enjoyment for your little one. The charms are designed to be large enough in size so they are not choking hazards. You’ll look stylish wearing it while your baby stays happy.
My son actually seemed quite content while I wore it and held him. He went right for it and was playing and teething on it for quite some time. I decided to try it out of the house as well! I wore it while waiting at my daughter’s pre-school classroom to pick her up one day where I am always holding him and trying to prevent my little wiggle worm from getting loose! I must say that it worked like a charm! It kept him extremely occupied to my delight!
Once your child has outgrown the SoRa Charm it becomes a wonderful keepsake and it is so pretty that you will enjoy wearing it again and again!
Currently, the site is offering free shipping and no coupon code is required.
Here's a cute, hand-designed shop. Violet Gumdrop is a place to check out when looking for personalized gifts for baby, mom and bride.
Wesley's new lightswitch plate celebrates his love of football with his name on it as well. The design was been decoupaged onto the switch, allowing for total room ownership.
Also at Violet Gumdrop, we're loving the generously-sized bibs. Our 2-year-old uses bibs while spilling (err... eating) his cereal each morning. But as he ages, its harder and harder to find bib necks to fit his 2-year-old neck, usually forcing an early pull-off, much before the spilling is over. The bibs at Violet Gumdrop weren't tight enough to bother him. These actually stay on. And how cute that his announces "BREAKFAST"--he knows its now his special breakfast bib.
Use code violet to save 10% off your entire purchase at Violet Gumdrop.
Innovative Infant Play Solutions from Baby AngelBug
What happens when a Child Psychiatrist & Developmental Specialist designs products for her own children? Inspiration apparently! Displeased with the way that other play mats on the market failed to support her son during tummy time, Dr. Amy Fairchild set out to design the perfect infant play mat. Her wedge shaped Baby AngelBug Kick and Grow Tummy Zone Developmental Mat is unique, ergonomic and a huge hit with infants. What makes the design special is the way the wedge safely supports baby's core and prevents back arc
It happens to the best babies. The public blowout, the sudden spit up, the mashed potato mess. And though you try and prepare yourself for the inevitable, it's easy to get caught out without a change of clothes. Even veteran diaper bag packers such as myself have been known to dress their poor soiled babies in little more than a paper napkin and rush home for a change. For shame! 
I don't think I can ever get enough of gorgeous fabrics made into amazing and functional clothing and decor items for me and my kids. When I saw the 
Lets get one thing straight. I'm not all that crunchy. I have no beef (or tofurky as the case may be) with crunchy folks but my ongoing attachment to my flatiron sort of prevents me from ever being labelled granola. Nevertheless, I have a healthy amount of guilt/concern about all the non-biodegradable disposible diaper refuse that my three kids created. So for #4 I vowed to try cloth. It sounds altruistic of me, and it is. Mostly. But to be completely honest it happened right after I saw how cute cloth diapering has become - the minky fabrics, the soft microfibers and cottony soft velour. What's not to love? Uh, washing a bunch of poopy diapers sprang to mind. Well it turns out that it's not all that bad. 
We started out with a variety of 
Blueberry Diapers currently has an amazing 
Use coupon code 
No question about it, if there is one piece of baby gear that I don't think I could live without at the moment, it is the Sweetpeace by Graco ($169.99). If you'd asked me this question a few years ago when my older kids were infants, I might have hesitated, and said a swing. But there is no hesitation now. The Sweetpeace is so much more than a swing. It is a whole baby (and parent... trust me!) soothing "system". It has motion in common with a swing, but from there on out, comparing it to an old school swing is like comparing your new mac laptop to a calulator. 
The 
The multi-functional 
No, I'm not pregnant, and should I become so, rest assured you'll be one of the first to know. 
Looking for a shower or new baby gift for the mom to be that pampers both the mom and the baby? Organically even? Then check out this adorably packaged 
The other day I was out with my son and a friend for lunch when I reached into my diaper bag and realized that I didn’t have any bibs inside! Immediately, thoughts came rushing through my head of how disastrous and messy this lunch would now be for my son! After all, he is now 10 months and when he starts eating, the food starts flying! He shoves food into his mouth so quickly and half of it usually goes down his bib. I stopped to see if I had my new 
Fall in love with one of the pieces at A is for Art (we have both Polka Dogs and Pirate Ship) and you won't find it hard to coordinate with a child's room. The colors are vibrant, the images full of life, and full of stories to be told. Finding an inspiration piece for your child's new room isn't hard when you're shopping at 
It's so nice when someone comes along and completely (and cleverly) re-designs something so commonplace, that no-one has really considered it in a while. Such as the baby bottle. Sure there have been variations on nipple size and all kinds of innovations to reduce bubbles. And more recently we've seen a reaction to the bisphenol-a leaching polycarbonate bottles, in the form of new and improved bisphenol-a free bottles. Many companies are actually looking backwards, bringing back the old classic such as the glass bottle of our youth. 
When my three year old son was born, we started our love affair with the 
Looking for a gift that stands out? Sick of the mass market and want to give a gift that feels a little more personal, hands on and earth friendly to boot?
I get very intimidated by decorating my home. Especially when it comes to hanging something on my walls. What if it doesn't look right? What if I hate it after a month or two? I'll be left with holes in the wall, not to mention my pockets.
In my never-ending search for adorable kid’s shoes, my latest find are hip soft soled 
It came with me to the hospital, supported me when I held and nursed my newborn baby and has been my constant companion ever since. It even rests next to me at night, ready to 'give a lift' through those all too frequent nightime feeding sessions. Am I speaking of my dear hubby? A best friend or even my Mom? Oh no, this companion is even more loyal (and best of all, doesn't have any opinions or advice.) Why, it's my Cuddoozle Nursing Pillow, of course!
Does your child love to teeth on just about anything these days? My son has been teething for months now and always goes for the remote, phone and just about ANYTHING he can get his mouth on. I don’t remember my daughter mouthing at everything, but I do have a horrible memory! So, I tested out a 
Here's a cute, hand-designed shop. 
