Fresh Food Is Better for Baby. Let Munchkin Help.

I bought the Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder a couple months ago to try out on my baby boy and I finally broke it out of the packaging this week. What a success--he absolutely loved it! 
          

Now, I wont lie, it was a little gross watching the soft banana ooze out of the net but it was so satisfying watching my little guy enjoy fresh foods. It took him all of 5 seconds to figure out that there was food in the "pacifier" before he latched on and got to business! (My boy is already a fat kid at heart! He loves food) I'm going to try to put some mango or melon in the net and see how that works out (it works great with super soft fruits & veggies). 

The one down-side to this product is that it's a little bit of a hassle to clean. The banana that was left in the netting was gooey and hard to get out of the stitching that holds the net together. It took me about 5 minutes to clean by hand (I could tell as soon as I opened the feeder and glanced inside that a spin through the dish washer would not do the trick.) Five minutes as a mom with an infant is too long to spend cleaning one item...I will, however, be sucking it up and dealing with having to clean it because it is such a great little product from every other angle. 

You can find this little feeder at CVS, Walgreens, Target, Babies"R"Us, etc and will only run you about $8.00. Happy Feeding!

4 THINGS EVERY MOM FINDS OUT...AFTER THE FACT

1. Anything Will Do As A Chew Toy. Save Your Money.

Yes, that is my son's ipad holder. :) Teethers? He can't be bothered with them.

2. Anything Soft = Stuffed Animal

 All babies want comfort. When mommy & daddy aren't available, anything soft will do. Stuffed animals are cute but not necessary. The blue polka-dot thingy he is holding came with a play mat I bought him. Its suppose to be a tummy time pillow. My boy wouldn't let this thing go for 2-3 weeks.

3.Fancy Toys Aren't Necessary OR Necessarily Wanted 

That my friends, is a bonafide, vintage-style rattle. As you can see, my son was enchanted. lol. On top of the fact that this toy will only run you about $4.00, the other great thing is that the solid handle will help with your baby's hand dexterity. 

4. Hand Mittens DO NOT Work...

^^socks on hands and not on feet-- imagine that. :) ^^

... Especially on little, new born hands. Unless you give birth to a 12 lb. baby (& God bless you if you do!) those mittens will not fit snugly enough around your baby's wrist. It's best you use socks. The elastic on socks is much more reliable.

Baby Snug and Activity Tray

What I love about the Mamas and Papas Baby Snug Seat and the activity tray (sold separately)is that it promotes independent sitting for your baby and (a big bonus) promotes socializing! When your beautiful bundle is at that age that they cant sit on their own, crawl, etc., where are they usually? That's right, on mommy's hip. While that is great strength training for you moms, it puts a damper on baby's socializing if there are other babies around. The booster seat allows for you to put baby down on the ground, putting him right where the action is. Look at the picture below; it is probably the first "play date" RJ and his cousin had together. It was too cute.

What if there aren't any other babies around? The Mamas and Papas Baby Snug seat is good for your baby's development anyway. The inner seat (removable for when your baby is big enough to sit up on his/her own) gives baby the support he needs to sit without you holding or propping him! This is where the activity tray transforms from cool to outright amazing; the activity tray will keep your little one distracted, all-the-while stimulating his/her brain through color, texture, noise, fun! And while all of that is going on, baby's muscles are growing stronger from sitting in the upright position!

The Baby Snug also comes in different colors (I bought RJ teal at Babies"R"Us). The whole kit-and-caboodle will run you about $80!

Happy Shopping! 

Website of The Month: Baby First TV

For this month, my favorite website is Baby First TV. Baby first not only is its own TV channel, focused on the development of newborns to toddlers, but it has an amazing website to boot. You can watch videos with your little one, play games, learn more about their TV channel, ipad and ipod apps, you can order DVDS, toys, the works! 

Studies show that the brain of a baby can absorb so much more than the mind of an adolescent or adult. Why not take advantage of it? Baby First is made to help you do just that! Check out the link to the website that I have posted for you on the right hand side. 

Happy Learning!

SIT & STROLL BY LILLY GOLD

I'm sure you remember how I raved about the Orbit G2 stroller and I'm still in love with it. (I'm actually about to buy the 'Next Step' system now that my little one is not so little.) Anyways, I bought the Lilly Gold 5-in-1 stroller because it was recommended by my mother-in-law (she used it with all 5 of her children) for traveling purposes; this is a FAA-certified stroller which means that airlines will allow it onto their planes!

Let me tell you, this stroller is so versatile and I LOVE it! It has a wide seat and neck support pillow attachment so baby is comfortable even on long trips. The wheels tuck into the bottom of the seat and release with the simple pull of a lever. The steering handles slide into and out of the top of the stroller just as easy as the wheels do. The picture below was taken off the Lilly Gold website and shows how the stroller/car seat can be used.

Now that my household has two strollers, one stroller is in my husband's car and one is in my SUV. The Lilly Gold stroller is an excellent purchase (it will run you back about $350) if you plan on traveling with your little one or just enjoy the simplicity of all-in-one type products. 

Happy Strolling! 

5 MOMMY MUST-HAVES FOR SUMMER

Living in Texas, Summer, for me, is a far cry from comfortable. The humidity, the weather of 100+ degrees, the unacceptable way the sun beams down on my head all day, the mosquitos...you get the point.  

I have put together a short lists of tried&true products you should add to your baby bag this summer to make your baby's summer a little more comfortable. Bug repellent, breezy blankets, and a few other easy to store, inexpensive products. Happy shopping.

#1 BabyGanics Shoo Fly Bye Insect Repellent

This will run you back about $9.00. Can be found at Target & Babies'R'Us.

#2  Kids' Crocs Littles

Depending on the design, these adorable Crocs will set you back $20-35

#3 Aiden + Anais Swaddle Cloths

Check out the Aden + Anais website for the most variety; Get a 4-pack for $50

#4 Stroller/Car Seat Netting

The Babies'R'Us brand is only $6!

#5 California Baby After Sun Aloe Vera Cream

Target and Babies'R'Us sale this brand & this product runs about $13 ;Check the California Baby website for their other great products.

AVENT BREAST PUMP:: TRIED + TRUE

First, let me say, before I tell you how much I like this pump: The Avent brand pump was the only pump I tried so I cant say how great of a product it is up against its competitors BUT I was so satisfied with this pump that I had no desire to try another pump out. (I hear that that is a normal occurrence in the mommy world.)

Anyways, the pump is electric and can also be used manually. This double pump allows you to pump both breasts simultaneously (a great help for the 100% of moms who don't want to spend all day pumping and storing milk!)It's super easy to put together and the instructions are simple and to the point. Yes! This pump also has memory! This means that you can manually pump until you figure out the speed and suction strength you are comfortable at, pump at that desired rate for 3 or 4 pumps, hit the blue button on the pump handle, and the machine will mimic what you were doing! Even after you turn the machine off, when you're ready to pump again it pumps at your desired rate automatically. Now, how cool is that?

The Avent Double Breast Pump also comes with these nice suction pads that also work as massagers for your breast as you pump; it actually feels pretty good (especially if you have to pump multiple times a day to keep up with your baby's appetite.Your boobs can get pretty sore). It also comes with two starter, 4-ounce bottles that may be great for most babies but, if you have a baby with an amazon appetite like my child who went from 4-ounces to 8-ounces in a matter of a month and a half, you may need to buy bigger bottles from the beginning! 

I bought mine at Babies"R"Us but I no longer see it on their website or on the Avent brand site. Avent does have another breast pump with the same name so, I think, it's safe to say that the pump has just been given a cosmetic makeover. The pump will set you back $251.

The down side to this product is that, besides the machine that powers everything, the pump breaks into a lot of different pieces (more things to clean and keep track of), and small amounts of milk gets lost in between the plastic and suction cup ( a bummer for moms who don't produce a lot of milk in the first place. Hey, the little milk loss could be one good gulp for baby!) Anyways, I still love my pump. :)  

Bottom Line: good investment, good quality, good purchase.

BOPPY PILLOW:: MOM'S BREAST FEEDING FRIEND

Ok, moms, let's face it: no matter how small your little one is, holding them up to each boob for 15-20 can seem more like an hour and can take it's toll (on the bright side, look out for sexy arms in the upcoming months. burn, baby, burn!). For those of you who would prefer to simply relax and enjoy the breast feeding session without it being coupled with an arm workout, this product is for you.

The Boppy is a c-shaped pillow that you place around your waist while breast feeding. It provides support for your arms while you are holding your baby up for feeding by filling in the space between your lifted arms and your lap. (see picture below) Perfecto! 

Check out the Boppy Website to buy products, gather care instructions, check their blog, and all that other great stuff. While you can get everything you need from the website, here are my favorite selling points for the product:

• Cover comes off for washing purposes 
• Covers come in all different colors and designs and can be bought separately to satisfy the mood of the day(yay!)
• Transitions into a prop for tummy time & lounging

You can find your new friend and Babies 'R' Us, Target, Walmart, etc. 

Bottom Line: Your arms will thank you.

LANSINOH THERA-PEARL BREAST THERAPY

Tenderness and raw skin come with the breast feeding territory.These little therapy pearls are super handy.They give you the option of soothing your breasts before or after a feeding; and for those moms who are really going through it, you can choose to use them before and after. (I know I did!)

Just warm the pearls in the microwave and place on your boobs before a feeding. It is said that the increase in temperature causes your milk to "let down". This just means that your body releases your milk supply; your nipples should, at this point, begin to leak. What is great about using the Lansinoh Thera-Pearl Breast Therapy packs before hand is that, if your milk has already let down, your bundle of joy wont have to work so hard to feed and this means he/she wont suck so hard out of frustration. (mom:1, nipple soreness:0) 

If you'd like to use them after the feeding, simply put them in the freezer before hand. As we all know, anything frozen can act as an anti-inflamitory; it will also help with soreness. What's better about using these packs than just a bag of ice, or something like that, is that these flat, circular shaped packs fit nicely in your bra! This means that you don't have to take time out of your busy schedule to nurse your sore boobs! (mom:1, time:0)

I've found this product at Target, Walgreens, and CVS. They are super easy to find and inexpensive. I recommend investing in a couple pair.

Bottom Line: Great, versatile product & very helpful. I wish the package came with 4 instead of 2 so moms can always have one frozen and one ready for the microwave.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH: BABYCENTER.COM

Alright moms & dads, as promised, here is the website of the month for April: BABYCENTER.COM.

This website is amazing. It walks expecting mothers through each week of pregnancy with videos, ideas on how to cope and relax, things to consider (like the type of birth you'd like, spouse's feelings, etc.), in depth information about what to expect as far as your mood and weight, how your baby is growing and developing, and they even have pictures of what your baby should look like during each specific week! 

BabyCenter was a huge help to me as a first time mom because, for one, I didn't know what to expect and, for two, it gave me something to look forward to during the weeks that I was simply waiting for my next doctor's appointment!

Once your baby is born, BabyCenter just keeps giving! You can opt into continuing to receive emails on how your baby should be developing each week after birth; they even continue providing you with all their goodies well into your child's toddler months and small child stages.

They also have an App! Everything sent right to your phone (I couldn't get enough of it.) You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc!

Check them out! The link can be found to the right of my blog under 'This Month's Favorite Website'.

A GUARDED NIPPLE IS A HAPPY NIPPLE

This is the first of a number of posts dedicated to breast feeding! 

I found out very early on in my breast feeding that I didn't have the ideal nipple size and shape. When this happens, it can be very hard for baby to latch and receive a feeding. This can cause for a very cranky baby. 

Luckily, there are these lovely little contraptions called nipple guards! They stick to your breast and allow for a longer "nipple" area to be available for baby to latch on to. The latching process is the battle, f.y.i. Once your baby is latched to your nipple, the suckling will pull your nipple further into the nipple guard and baby will have an easier time receiving your milk!

I used the Medela brand nipple guard and it worked wonderfully. I received my first guard from my lactation nurse while I was still admitted in the hospital after giving birth to my son. It was a little big so I went to Babies "R" Us a week later and found that Medela offers different sized nipple guards! ( And rightly so! I mean, breasts are not 'one size fits all'.) I found my size (measure the area of your nipple if you'd prefer not to estimate once you are in the store.) and have been completely happy since. 

These guards are super easy to clean and are reusable so the costs of investing in these things is low. And, trust me, they are worth the investment; not only does the guard assist baby in feeding but it lessens the pain associated with breast feeding by acting as a barrier between your naturally sensitive nipple and your over-zealous, hungry baby.

Give them a try. 

ALL ABOUT BREAST FEEDING: THE BEAUTIES AND THE BEASTS

Breast feeding is a beautiful thing. It gives you and your new baby intimate time which is extremely helpful for the bonding process and no formula in the world is as nutritious and helpful to your baby's immune system and the minimization of their food allergies. ( I'm not an expert but these are the things that I was told in the hospital by my lactation nurse.) These nurses recommend feeding your baby breast milk exclusively for the first 6-months and then supplemented for the next 6-months (or however long you'd like to be feeding your child from the breast.)

Now, however beautiful it is, breast feeding has an ugly, ugly side to it for most women (myself included!) The pain associated with your baby trying to learn how to eat on his/her own (remember, they lived 9-months not having to work for food at all and I'm sure they loved every minute of it!), the possibility that your nipples may not be large enough for your child to latch onto without assistance from products (thank God for nipple guards!), the chaffing, the bleeding, the large amount of time you'll spend trying to keep your milk production up with your baby's growing appetite (my son's appetite jumped from 3-ounces to 6-ounces in a matter of three days; yikes!), and, not to mention, the temptation of formula just because of its availability and ease of use, all make for an uphill battle with breast feeding. You should consider, though, the extreme nutritional value it has for your child and make a decision. 'Yes', it will be hard and 'Yes', it will be worth it.

The upcoming posts will feature some of the best products I have used in my journey through breast feeding. I will be giving some tips and, hopefully, some words of encouragement for you women thinking of breastfeeding and also for you moms who are thinking of giving up.

Here are just some pictures of some of the products I will be talking about in the upcoming weeks. Talk to you soon!

DIRTY DIAPERS CLEAN UP NICELY! (THANKS TO THE DIAPER PAIL)

Ok moms and dads, this product is awesome; bottom line. The Munchkin Diaper Pail is the easiest diaper disposal system I have come across ( & I have tied a few!) It comes out of the box ready to use and once the diaper bag is full, the plastic top on the bag snaps shut and is ready to throw away ( shown in the picture below.)

 Also, the Munchkin crew decided to team up with Arm&Hammer (what a combo!) which keeps the stink of dirty, dirty diapers at bay. I don't know about your child but my son's diapers smell like he released a deadly gas; once I stick the diaper in the Diaper Pail, the smell is long forgotten!

Now, I've never actually counted how many diapers fit in each bag (I mean, what mom has time do such a thing, right? During a diaper change, I'm more interested in dodging the pee my son decides to let loose once I open his diaper!)but the box of Diaper Pail refill bags says that it holds 50...I'd say that is about right; it takes me about 5-6 days to fill one bag up in my house.

I would usually end with a 'Pros and Cons' section but I actually have nothing negative to say about this product. I am completely satisfied with the durability, size, ease of use and execution...It's pretty amazing. 

I bought mine at Target but I have also seen it Walmart and CVS! If you are an expecting mom, buy this system from the start. If you already have your baby at home and are using another system (and you aren't completely satisfied ), I dare you to try this system out. I'm willing to bet you will fall in love with the Diaper Pail!!!

MUNCHKIN LOVE: THE SHAMPOO RINSER

This is really just a peace-of-mind product, moms and dads. But, let's face it, a little peace-of-mind with a little person in the household is a BIG thing!

This is the shampoo rinser from a brand called Munchkin (get use to that name because I love them and I'd bet, after using a couple of their products, you will too!) It is made out of a soft, flexible material with an easy-grip handle. No more anxiety about dropping that hard plastic cup you're dangling over your child's head while rinsing his/her body during bath time!

I bought my shampoo rinser from Target but you can find a retailer on the Munchkin website here!

As the Munchkin product family would say, 'It's the little things.'

FISHER PRICE HAS A HIT! THE ROCK & PLAY SLEEPER

People warned me about the issues I would come across in regards to sleep once I had RJ and everyone has a different opinion about how to get the best sleep for you and your baby once you bring your bundle of joy home with you. It can be a nerve-racking thing, right? If you let the baby sleep with you, you run the risk of causing unintentional harm to baby as you sleep. If you put the baby down to sleep in a crib or basinet, you may find that you don't sleep even if baby is catching some Z's because you can't hear the baby breathing from such a distance or any number of other concerns. Hard decisions must be made!

I will admit, I still let RJ sleep with me sometimes but when he isn't taking up every, possible inch of my bed, he sleeps in his Fisher Price Rock & Play Sleeper. It really is a great product, moms & dads. It is a good height (stands only about 2 inches lower than my mattress), has bowed legs so you can rock your baby when he/she becomes fussy, is super simple to put together (I put it together in less than 5-minutes without the instructions), and is a comfort for my baby to lay in. I think it may have something to do with the design; it's almost like laying baby in a hammock (a very sturdy hammock, made out of plastic and metal and runs no risk of flipping over if you lose your balance.)The point is that the sleeper surrounds your baby to make him/her feel at ease. It is also inclined for those babies who don't like the feeling of laying flat yet! 

Pros

• Easy to assemble & fold for easy travel. easy,easy,easy
• Removable cover for easy cleaning (there's that 'easy' word again!)
• Stands at good height next to a standard bed for close proximity between you and your sleeping baby
• Cover comes in different colors & cute designs (different stores will vary)
• Surrounds your baby, sits at an incline, and can rock back and forth for comfort

Cons

• Possibility of mold 

NOW, BEFORE YOU PANIC, I wouldn't recommend something that I knew was bad or dangerous for your baby but I do want you to know all the facts: Fisher-Price released a warning (a type of recall, if you will) in Jan.2013 telling parents that they needed to check for mold between the cover and base of the sleeper. The mold stems from not washing the cover. 

Bottom Line? Babies sweat in their sleep just like we do and if you feed your baby in the sleeper, chances are milk will also find its way into the cover. If you change your bed sheets every 7-10 days, why would you go weeks, months without washing what your baby sleeps in? Wash the cover, wipe down the base and mold will not be an issue.

You will love this sleeper and so will your baby! :)

^^look how comfy he looks! & he will sleep ALL night in this thing. I bet you're sold on this sleeper now, huh?^^

Little Noses: Fun & Function

While a baby with a stuffy nose is No Fun, I cant help but smile every time I pull out my Little Noses box (isn't the little baby on the saline bottle just adorable?!) Anyways, the Little Noses aspirator is by far the best one I've tried;I'd say 3-4 other aspirators got a chance and didn't make the cut.

I started with the big blue aspirator I was given at the hospital when RJ was born but, let's face it, unless your child is born with the nostril size of an 18 year old boy, it's just too dang big. I made my way through a few others until RJ came down with a little cold and I had to buy the saline spray (aspirator included.) The Little Noses aspirator is the perfect size for infants and is angled so that the process of sucking mucus out of a crying child's nose is as painless and comfortable as possible for both parent and baby. 

Where can you pick one up? I've seen them at both Target and CVS.

Bottom Line: Good things come in small packages