Product Review - BreathableBaby Breathable Bumper

My 8 month old daughter has turned out to be a very crazy sleeper. She is constantly moving around and ends up in so many different positions. Throughout the night I have to get up to move her little arms and legs out of the slots in her crib. She has banged her head on many occasions on the side of the crib. We had to remove her cloth bumper because she kept shoving her face into it and I was afraid she would suffocate when she was sleeping. I was so exhausted from getting up all night every night but I didn't know what else to do. My friend suggested that I get a Breathable Bumper.

BreathableBaby Bumper

I was so happy that someone had invented this that I went out to Buy Buy Baby and bought it right away. The bumper comes in two pieces, a long piece and a short piece. It was very easy to attach, which was good because it didn't come with instructions. The bumper has velcro along the seams so it's very eay to adjust. Since their are no ties you don't have to worry about your child hurting themselves with them. It is made of nylon so you can breathe even if your face is shoved up next to the bumper. It also can't handle any weight so it will fall down if your child tries to stand on it. My daughter hasn't had any problem with her arms/legs getting stuck in the crib anymore and I don't have to get up all night. It does have some padding but not very much so she still hits her head sometimes and hurts herself but it's not very often. The product costs $30 and it is totally worth the price. The only bad part of this bummper is that when my daughter is awake she puts her leg on top of the bumper and it falls down causing her leg to get stuck. Since I only use her crib for naps/bedtime it's not a big problem for me. I highly recommend this product. It is well worth the money!

Product Review - The Healthy Baby Meal Planner

Since I decided to make my own baby food my pediatrician recommended I get a book from the library because certain foods have to be cooked differently. I went to my local library and I got a couple of books. They were ok but they didn't really have very much information besides making basic baby food. When I went to Buy Buy Baby I came across The Healthy Baby Meal Planner by Annabel Karmel.

I flipped through the book at the store and I really liked how much information it had. Since the book was so expensive there, it was $25, I decided to look for a cheaper place to get it. I found it for $5 on eBay, shipping was free. I love this book! It has such great information. It goes over all the vitamins your baby needs and explains each stage of the weaning process. The recipes are very simple but they taste great, I always taste the food I make before I give it to my daughter. They have lots of great puree blends so it makes mixing different veggies and fruits much simpler. It has a sample meal menu you can follow for each stage. It also explains when you can start switching to meats and giving your baby finger foods. It's not just for infants it also has plenty of great recipes for your toddler too. If you plan on making your own baby food I recommend this book, it's the only book you need. Just make sure you get it on eBay because it's much cheaper there!

Product Review - Arm's Reach CoSleeper The Mini

I bought my Arm's Reach CoSleeper The Mini out of sheer frustration. 

                             Arm's Reach CoSleeper - The Mini

I had received the Burlington Baby Bassinet as a baby shower gift. I used that bassinet when my daughter was born and she only liked it the first month. After that we had to haul her play yard up the stairs every night. Eventually I had to sleep in her room on the floor while she slept in her crib. Whenever I would be in my room getting ready I would place her in the Burlington bassinet and that thing was a piece of junk. I hated putting her in it, it was totally unsafe, but I didn't know what else to do. I saw the ad for the cosleeper in my Mothering magazine so I decided to go to Babies R Us and buy it. Oh how I love this cosleeper. I really wish I had this from the beginning. It would have made the first four months of her life so much easier. I am finally able to sleep in my own bed with my daughter sleeping right next to me. It's great peace of mind and I can get much better rest. Since the side comes down I have easy access to her without having to get out of bed. Their is a safety cord that is attached to the cosleeper that you put under your mattress. That way I know the cosleeper won't tip over or move while I sleep. Since it is the mini version it isn't as big as our play yard so I have more space to get around my bedroom. The weight limit on this cosleeper is 30lbs so it can fit a child for up to one year or more. My daughter is 7 and a half months and she still fits great in it. You can also convert it to a play yard when you don't need the cosleeper. It packs up very easily and only takes up the size of a small long box. It costs around $150 which is a little pricey but it's well worth the money. The only drawback is the mattress it comes with. It's not really a mattress so much as a board with foam. You have to buy an additional mattress if you want it to be comfortable. Overall I highly recommend this product.

Product Review - Deceptively Delicious

I first learned about Deceptively Delicious when I saw the author on Oprah. At the time I didn't have any children but I thought the book would be good since my husband hates eating healthy food. I was always trying to find new ways to get my husband to eat healthy food so I decided to buy the book.

 

Deceptively Delicious

Most of the recipes require you to puree vegetables but you can add some finely shredded vegetables in some recipes. I liked the concept of the book but you have to make sure you have the time to puree the vegetables ahead of time. If you wait until you are going to cook the recipe then it will take a long time to make the meal. Some of the recipes were very good, my husband loves the turkey meatball soup, but most of the recipes were rather bland and not that great. The point of the book is to get your family to eat vegetables and this book really does acocmplish that. My husband hates cauliflower but he didn't even taste it in the mash potatoes that I put it in. Since this book is $15 I wouldn't recommend buying it. I would recommend you get it from your local library and try the recipes out. If you do in fact think the book is worth $15 at that point you can buy it to have at home.

Product Review - Eco Nuts Organic Laundry Soap

Recently I came across a natural laundry soap, Eco Nuts, on Baby Half Off.

 

Eco Nuts 4 oz Organic Laundry Soap

I was very excited about this product when I read the description. It's a natural, organic, soap nut. It's fragrance free, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and antimicrobial. What is a soap nut? They are completely sustainable dried fruit shells that come from the Sapindus mukorossi tree in Nepal, India and Indonesia. Eco Nuts contain saponin, a natural cleaner that works as a surfactant, breaking the surface tension of the water to penetrate the fibers of your clothing, lifting stains from the fabric and leaving dirt suspended in the water that is rinsed away. My husband and daughter have very sensitive skin so I am always looking for soap that won't irritate there skin. Since it's antimicrobial I thought it would be perfect for washing my cloth diapers. I found that the price was much cheaper through the Eco Nuts website. You can enroll in their laundry club, it's $13.56 for each 50 load box, and shipping is included! You can unsubscribe any time without a fee so I decided to start with the 3 month plan. The Eco Nuts were very simple to use. Just put 3-5 nuts in the bag provided and toss in with your laundry. I followed their instructions on cloth diaper care and my diapers were much fluffier. My daughter hasn't had any kind of reaction to the soap and her diapers always smell clean. The thing I love the most about these nuts is that once you have finished using the nut you can make liquid soap out of them and use for laundry again or as liquid soap. Nothing is wasted with this product so it is very good for the environment. I highly recommend this product.

Baby Bottle Review - Dr. Brown's vs Playtex vs Medela

Before my daughter was born I bought the Playtex VentAire Wide Bottle because I read it was a good bottle for breastfeeding mothers to use to avoid nipple confusion. I also liked that the air flow design helped reduce spit up and helped with gas.

Playtex VentAire Wide Bottle

I tried using this bottle to feed my daughter but she didn't like it. It was very hard to grip since the bottle was large and the angle made it awkward to hold.  This bottle also didn't fit in my sterilizer or bottle warmer. Each bottle came with a lot of parts, 6 total which made cleaning the bottles a time consuming chore. Since my daughter didn't like this bottle I switched to the Medela bottles that came with my pump.

Medela 5-ounce Breatsmilk bottle

My daughter liked these bottles much better. They were very easy to use and since they were compatible with my breast pump it was easy to just put a nipple on the bottle that I had used to pump my milk. Each bottle only has four parts so it was very easy to clean and since it was a standard size it fit in my bottle warmer and sterilizer. This bottle did have some issues. First it didn't help with spit up or gas. Many times when my daughter would drink her milk the nipple would become flat and eventually slip into the bottle making it impossible to get milk out. I decided to look for a better bottle solution. I went to Buy Buy Baby and they recommended the Dr. Brown's bottles.

Dr. Brown's® 4-Ounce Baby Bottle

My daughter absolutely loves this bottle! She is able to get the milk out without any issues. I don't see her struggling with the nipple as she did with the Medela. It has also helped with her spit up and gas problems. She really is doing well with this bottle.  Since it's a standard size it fits my bottle warmer and sterilizer. The only problem I have with this bottle is the many parts it has, 6 total per bottle. It is very time consuming to clean these bottles and you can only use the cleaning brush provided to clean some of the smaller parts. Since my daughter seems to be doing really well with these bottles I don't mind the extra time spent.

Product Review - My Hands Are Clean Sign

I ordered the My Hands Are Clean sign because they used non-toxic and eco-friendly ink and plastic.

I was a little worried that the sign might be to large, based on the product description, but I was pleased it wasn't. I ordered the Red Stop design and it arrived in the mail very promptly. I was a little disappointed that the bright red color was more of a cranberry but this is probably due to the image resolution. I was afraid that the sign wouldn't be as visible because it wasn't as bright but since the sign is large it's not an issue. Another huge benefit of this sign is that it entertains my daughter. Since it hangs above her head she is always looking at it and sometimes she tries to stick it in her mouth, thankfully non-toxic ink is used. There are some areas were I think this product could improve. First they don't include instructions for the strap. I wasn't sure how to attach it and I attached it wrong and it fell off. Thank goodness we were still at home when it fell. I am pretty sure I have it on right now. My second issue is that the strap isn't adjustable. Since the opening is so large it is constantly sliding down the car seat handle. I have to move it up all the time or else it can't be seen and the sign is useless. They aren't very expensive around $9.99 and shipping is free. Overall I am very happy with this product, not one stranger has touched my daughter since I put the sign on her car seat!

Product Review - Blush Your Topless Undershirt

I bought the Blush topless undershirt because based on the description it was exactly what I needed. It's a topless undershirt, think tube top, with lace trim.

It goes under your shirt right below your chest and is long enough to cover your mid section. It reaches the top of your butt. It cost $20 but I bought it at Baby Half Off for $10. I hated showing my stomach when I would pump or breastfeed so I really loved this idea. It 's also great when your pants are to low and you want to hide the little section of skin that is showing. The website says that this shirt also can be used when your pregnant to cover your growing belly. I ordered a medium because based on their sizing chart it fits sizes 6-14. I am a size 10 and the shirt fits me very snug. Their is no way this shirt would stretch enough to cover a pregnant women's belly. You could try a large but I still don't think it would stretch enough. It does fit snug enough that it keeps my loose pants up without a belt. Since their is no elastic at the top of the shirt after its been worn once it has stretched out. The top part of the shirt kept falling down when I tried wearing it on the second day. I am sure it will go back to normal after I wash it but I don't do laundry every day. Overall I like the shirt because its great for breastfeeding mothers but I wouldn't buy this shirt if I was pregnant or not breastfeeding.

Product Review - Ocean Wonders Take-Along Projector Soother

My husband bought this Ocean Wonders Take-Along Projector Soother at Babies R Us because he thought it would be a great addition to her nursery. It was much cheaper than other soothers, only $20, so he decided to buy it. The suggested age is Birth+. It plays classical music as well as ocean sounds for up to 12 minutes at a time. It projects a lighted image onto any surface. It has two ocean images you can project and one image has more animals and is suppose to be for older children. My 5 month old daughter liked the classical music but the ocean sounds didn't catch her attention. You have to project the image very close to your child's eyes or else they can't see the image. The projected image didn't rotate so when my daughter could see the image she wasn't really interested in it. The projector is suppose to be able to stand on it's side to make projecting on a side wall possible but I could never get the projector to do so. It kept falling down and I eventually gave up. I don't recommend buying this product. It is not worth the money. I am going to return it and get a full refund.

Ocean Wonders Take-Along Projector Soother

Product Review - Lansinoh vs Medela Breastmilk Bags

When I first started pumping at work I used the Medela Pump and Save breastmilk bags. I really liked these bags. They were made out of a thick material and I felt confident the bag wouldn't easily rip. It was very easy to open and close the resealable top. They were compatible with my pump so if I ever forgot a bottle it was no problem since I could just attach the bag to the pump with the attached sticker top. The bags only fit 5 ounces of breastmilk but that was no problem since I never pumped more than 5 ounces at a time. The bottom of the bag opens up making it easy to store in the refrigerator without tipping over. The label area worked well with any kind of pen I had. My friend had some left over Lansinoh bags and she gave them to me to try out. Well I don't like these bags at all. The material seems flimsy and I am always afraid it will rip, it hasn't yet though. The bottom of the bag doesn't really stand well so the bag is always tipping over in the refirgerator. The label area is very hard to write on. I can never get any pen to write well on it. The bags are tall so they will fit more than 5 ounces. The easy to pour spout is not very easy to use. I can never get the last 1/2 ounce of milk out without spilling milk. It breaks my heart to see the milk I worked so hard to pump wasted on the counter. Since I don't want to waste any bags I am stuck using the Lansinoh bags until they are all gone but I will not buy them. I would rather spend the extra dollar a box and get the Medela bags.

Product Review - Fisher Price Deluxe Auto Mirror

I received the Fisher Price Precious Planet deluxe auto mirror with music as a baby shower gift. I was very excited to use it because I knew it would be a useful gift. The mirror works well and has a good range so I can see my daughter well. The music has 3 options off, medium, loud. Unfortunately the medium volume never worked. Since the music calmed my daughter down when she was crying I decided to just deal with the loud music. My daughter really loved the music feature. It helped soothe her when I was driving and unable to stop. The only problem was that after a month the music stopped working. The remote didn't work all the time and the music feature became unusable. Since I hadn't purchased this item I was unable to return it. I called the Fisher Price Customer Support and they told me this product was made by Blue Ridge and I would have to call them for support. I was given the Blue Ridge number and I left a voicemail message. I was sure I wouldn't hear back from them but they promptly called me back the next day. Since they guarantee their products for 1 year I was sent a replacement mirror and remote. The funny thing was they sent me a different mirror, the Ocean Wonders mirror. I did some research online and it seems that the music breaking is a common problem among this product. Also the Ocean Wonders has a smaller mirror so I am not able to see my daughter as well. I really don't recommend this product. It is a great mirror but the music feature will probably break. So save your money and buy a different product.

Important Note: I recently took my car seat to my local fire station to make sure it was installed properly and I was informed to never use a car seat mirror. These mirrors are not tested for safety in car accidents. Most of the mirrors have hard backs and can fly off in an accident. Worst of all you usually point the mirror at your child's head, can you imagine that mirror flying towards your child's face at 60 mph? So you must never use a car seat mirror and if you know someone who has a mirror please let them know what a safety hazard it is!

Product Review - Bummis Fabulous Wet Bags Medium

I was looking for a good bag to store all my dirty diapers while I was away from home. I found lots of Wahmies bags on Amazon but the reviews weren't great for this product. Most people mentioned the bag becoming unraveled in the washing machine rendering the product unusable. I went to the Bummis web site and I found their Fabulous Wet Bags. I liked the snap handle which let me attach it my diaper bag and stroller. The zipper helps keep the odor controlled and the bags are lead, phthalate and BPA free. I decided to give the medium bag a try and I love my bag! It can hold multiple diapers and covers, so far I have been able to fit 2 covers and 5 prefolds, and I haven't had an odor or leak problem. The bag is fantastic. I have washed it multiple times and I haven't had a single problem. I just turn the bag inside out and I wash it with the rest of my diapers. I highly recommend this bag, it's a great product, and I look forward to trying some of Bummis other products.

Product Review - Sophie the Giraffe

I saw a picture of Sophie the Giraffe on the cover of Mothering magazine and the toy was so adorable I decided to buy it for my daughter. It is a baby teething toy and it's handmade in the french alps. The rubber is made from tree sap and the paint is plant based so I felt it would be a good choice for a teething toy. My package arrived just the other day and I gave my daughter the toy today and she loves it! It is very soft and the perfect size for her small hands. She is able to grip it easily and she loves the squeaking sound it makes. I highly recommend it for your own child or as a gift. You can purchase Sophie the Giraffe at Land of Nod or for a limited time you can get $5 off at Shop Mothering.

Product Review - Levana Video Baby Monitor

I bought my Levana CXS6-01 Digital Wireless Video Baby Monitor on Costco.com because of the features listed: night vision, voice activated standby mode, night light, and lullabies. It was a pretty good price at $135 compared to the other monitors on their site. I was very excited when I got it in the mail last night as we desperately needed a baby monitor. The instruction booklet was simple to follow and we were able to get the monitor ready to use in 10 mins. I didn't like the base for the camera, as only a magnet holds it in place, but it came with a crib mount that was much sturdier. I love how you can turn on the lullabies from the control as well as switch songs. The voice activated standby mode was also very impressive but my daughter has to make a loud noise for it to be activated or be moved closer to the camera. The picture is very clear, even at night, and we experienced no interference of any kind. Overall I am very happy with this product and I would highly recommend it.

Product Review - Moby Wrap

I had received a Baby Bjorn as a baby shower gift and I was eager to try it. My daughter wanted to constantly be held and it was getting hard not to be able to use my hands. Since she was born early I had to wait until she was 8 lbs before I could use it. I was so excited to try it once she reached the minimum weight but she hated it. Every time I would put her in she would cry until I took her out. I was researching baby carriers online when I came across the Moby Wrap. I watched the online demo video and read the reviews and it seemed like a good choice. I bought it online at Target so I could return it if my daughter didn't like it. I have to admit when I first unwrapped the item it was a little difficult to see how it could safely carry my baby. The instruction booklet is very detailed and has lots of great holds and information. After I read the booklet I put my daughter in the cradle hold. She loved it and feel asleep right away! I couldn't believe it, she was asleep and I had 2 free hands. I was afraid it might not hold her in properly but I was wrong. She is always held in very snug and it is much easier on my back to carry her in it. I give the Moby Wrap 5 out of 5 stars. I only wish I had this when she was first born. Their is no weight minimum so it is great to use for preemies.