Dolphin Organics 100% Natural Baby Products

I’m not a regular user of organic products but I do understand why many people prefer to use organic or natural products in their household. Especially if your child has special skin issues, a natural product that is hypoallergenic would be even more important.

Lavender!

I was given a chance to try Dolphin Organics new line of products that feature a Norfolk Lavender scent. The scent alone had me jumping at the chance. I think lavender is the PERFECT scent for babies.

The lavender scent is currently available in the lotion, Shampoo/Body Wash and Bubble bath. I tried the first two out with my son.  The first thing I noticed is that the lavender scent is stronger in the lotion, which is my favourite.

Just How Natural Is It?

The back of the containers has a chart that shows which ingredients are organic, which are natural and which are artificial (HINT: NONE)

I really like the rest of the packaging as well. The bottles are not easy for a baby to open so you shouldn’t have to worry about your baby grabbing it during bath time and opening it on you. My 19 month old couldn’t open it.  I just LOVE the front of it too:

Dolphin Organics also has a DO Natural line which includes Sunscreen and Detangler as well and the company sells Gifts, Bundles and Travel Sets.

Unless you live near one of the retailers, you are probably best to buy it online, especially if you live in Canada as it’s only available in two stores, one of which is online only anyways.  

I don’t think my family will go strictly organic/natural anytime soon but I do appreciate that it’s a well made product and would probably make a good choice for a family who is looking for something more organic for their baby.

*Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Contest: Win Pampers Diapers for a Year (Canada)

Pampers Canada has a great contest starting today to win Pampers Diapers for a year! The first draw will be Dec 6 and then there will be a draw every month until the end of June 2013 so you have multiple chances to win!

You can enter to win at pampers.ca or the Pampers Canada Facebook Page.

*Approximate Retail Value of Diapers for a Year: $1049 !

Disclosure: I was notified of this contest because I’m a P&G Mom. No compensation was provided for this post. I’m sharing because I would love one of my readers to win!

Milestones, Weaning and Natrel’s Baboo #NatrelBaboo

My son Liam hit 18 months on Sept 29 and since then, I’ve been reminiscing of how much he’s grown since he was born. As my third child, it seems like time moved even quicker as with your first child, it seems like it takes forever for them to reach each milestone:

• Smiling/Laughing
• Rolling
• Sitting
• Crawling/Walking
• Feeding Self
• and so much more

At (now) 19 months, Liam speech is amazing and he runs and climbs. No more slow toddling ahead. At 18 months I decided it was time for us to get started on the weaning journey. After 12 months I had offered him cow’s milk a few times but he really had no interest in it. At 18 months, I was getting ready to go on a trip, gone 24 hours total and I wanted him to be able to get his nourishment from milk since I wouldn’t be there to nurse him. If he had no choice (i.e. I wasn’t there) he would drink it but he still preferred breast milk. I am both sad that breastfeeding is almost done with and happy to have my body back and be able to leave him overnight.

I was offered a chance to try Natrel’s Baboo, a milk drink for ages 12-24 months to help transition from formula or breastmilk to regular milk.

How is Baboo Different?

Easy to digest, because it has a lower protein content than regular milk and provides a whey/casein ratio close to that of breast milk.

4% fat content.

Contains a natural source of Omega-3 DHA.

Excellent source of calcium.

A source of vitamins A, C, D, E and B6.

Made with fresh Natrel milk.

Ready to drink and does not need to be diluted or reconstituted.

Can be stored at room temperature thanks to its packaging, which is 100% impervious to oxygen and light and preserves Baboo’s great taste and nutritional content.

source

I love that it didn’t need to be store in the fridge till opened. This makes it perfect for storing in your diaper bag just in case. Also it comes in one big 1L Tetrapak or a set of 6 little 250 mL ones with straws for your older toddler to just drink herself.  Tetrapak cartons are recyclable so you can save on dishes and be good for the environment.

My son liked the taste and didn’t seem to notice any difference in taste from the cow’s milk he was drinking. This is good because later when you switch to regular milk, your child wont’ even notice a difference so the change should be seamless. It doesn’t have any odor and if you saw it sitting in a glass, you would think it was regular milk.

My Suggestions for Uses:

1. You are weaning off breastmilk or formula (at 12 months+)  but you are worried about losing the extra nutrients your child is getting (Baboo has vitamins and Omega-3s)
2. You are weaning and your child has digestion issues. (Baboo is easily digested)
3. You use regular milk already but you want something you can bring with you easily without worrying about refrigeration (Baboo can be stored at room temp till open.)
4. You breastfeed (12 months+) but want something more than regular milk to leave with her when she is being cared for by others.
5. He’s was a preemie and the doctor said you can stop formula but you are worried about losing the extra nutrition.
6. You are having trouble getting your child off the bottle (Baboo comes in cartons with straws.)

Baboo is sold in the 10 Canadian Provinces in most major chains and grocery and pharmacy chains. The SRP is $3.29/L or $6.99/six-pack.

Baboo’s F.A.Q. has tons of great information if you want to know more, here are a few interesting things I learned:

Why was this product developed?

• Baboo is the first Canadian dairy product especially designed for toddlers aged 12-24 months to ensure a smooth transition from breast milk or infant formula to regular milk.
• Baboo is the culmination of two years of R&D at Natrel.
• This category of toddler dairy product has been available in parts of Europe and other parts of the world for more than 20 years, but nothing like it has existed in Canada until now.

What are the ingredients?

• Baboo only has six ingredients: reconstituted ultrafiltered milk permeate, whole milk enriched with vitamin D3, cream, whey protein concentrate, acerola cherry juice concentrate powder and algal oil (Omega-3 DHA).

Can I use your Natrel Baboo for cooking and baking?

• Yes, you can interchange whole milk with Natrel Baboo in any cooking or baking recipes, it will keep its properties. For recipes go to natrelbaboo.com.

If it has a shelf-life of up to 4 months, how could it possibly be fresh?

• Often chilled milk is referred to as “fresh” but the “freshest” form of milk comes directly from a cow and isn’t cold when it comes out.
• Aseptic technology used by Tetra Pak protects Baboo from light and oxygen, sealing in the fresh nutrients of the dairy product, without preservatives, using Ultra High Temperature during the packaging process, which is why Tetra Pak’s motto is “protect what’s good”.

Would You Like to Try Some?

Baboo is giving away 50,000 free coupons on the Natrel Baboo Facebook Page.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Baboo Blog Tour by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Natrel. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Bumbo Baby Seat Recall (Canada and US)

Note: The following information is from the Bumbo Canada website but the recall is applicable to the US as well.

“August 15, 2012 – Bumbo International Trust is conducting a voluntary recall to add a restraint belt and new warnings to the Bumbo® Baby Seat. Infants can maneuver out of or fall from the seat, posing a risk of serious injuries. Working closely with the Health Canada, Bumbo has determined that the potential safety issue can be readily corrected in the home by adding a restraint belt. In addition, Bumbo is providing a new warning sticker for consumers to attach to the seat to re-emphasize existing warnings against use of the seat on any raised surfaces.”

There is no need to send back the seat. You just have to send for a kit with restraint belt and new warning stickers. Do not use your Bumbo seat until it is fixed.

Seats Affected:

The Bumbo® Baby Seats were sold in the Canada by retailers including Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us, and various other toy and children’s stores nationwide, and various online sellers. The seats were sold in various colors from August 2003 through August 2012.

The Bumbo® Baby Seats were sold in the United States by retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us, USA Babies and various other toy and childrens stores nationwide, and various online sellers. The seats were sold in various colors from August 2003 through August 2012 for between $30-50.

For more information on determining if your seat is affected, see your corresponding site:

Bumbo Canada

Bumbo US

This is the updated sticker

Please Share This Information!

*Image from Flickr user acheron0.

#OCanadaBaby–Supporting #TeamCanada at the London 2012 Olympics

Back in April I shared that Pampers Canada and Canadian Olympian Priscilla Lopes-Schliep had gotten together to create the first version of O Canada performed by babies. My son Liam was in the first cut of the video and every so often they released a longer version.

Well I’m ecstatic to announce that with the launch of The 2012 London Olympics today, the final version of the video is being shown AT THE OLYMPICS!

That’s my baby there at about 13 seconds in (in red with red cellphone.)

GO TEAM CANADA!

REVIEW: How to Photograph Your Baby DVD by @nickkelsh

Photography and Me

I’ve always loved photography but my photos always come out bad. I always figured I’d never take good photos until I had the money to buy a GOOD camera.

I’ve gotten a little better over the years as I learn a few tricks but I still get a majority of eh pictures and some really bad.

I would still like to get a quality camera someday but thanks to Nick Kelsh, I have some idea of how to make the photos I take with my regular cameras, better.

Assumptions

I figured the video would drone on about photography using words I didn’t understand or be helpful only to those who had the high quality cameras. So I put off watching it until it was time to do the review.

I Was Wrong.  You knew what they say about assumptions right?

Learning and Laughing

Nick Kelsh is FUNNY. I loved the video and was sad when it was done. He has a great sense of humour, did not use much technical language and showed parents taking photos with regular digital cameras as well.

Each tip is presented after introducing us to a mom, dad or grandma who has troubles with his or her photos. We are introduced to the adult and the child, shown photos that were taken and then Nick explains the problem. Then he shows them how simple it is to fix that problem and within minutes they are taking better photos.

More About Photography

Nick Kelsh is also the owner of howtophotographyourlife.com where he offers photography tips and fun like quotes and a caption contest. He has a daily photo tips email that you can get the free version of or the more indepth paid version (only $19.95/year)

There is also the How to Photograph Your Baby Facebook Page which currently has assignments you can participate in. Eventually there will be forums and galleries on the website.

Testing

I applied the following tips in the following photos:

• Get Close
• Watch Your Backgrounds
• Lighting, Lighting, Lighting!

I’m giving away a How to Photograph Your Baby DVD and One Year Subscription to howtophotographyourlife.com in the Shake, Rattle and Roll Hop which ends 6/5 and is open to US/CAN (along with other products totalling over $100.)

Buy It: You can purchase the DVD, the website subscription and a few other things at the shop.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

GIVEAWAY: Shake, Rattle and Roll Hop - Moms-to-Be ($169) - Moms-of-Babes ($117) US/CAN 6/5 #ShakeRattleWin

The Shake, Rattle, and Roll Giveaway Hop features a variety of great products for kids of all ages! Once you have entered to win here, be sure to visit all of the participating blogs at the bottom of this post!

Don’t forget to enter to win the Shake, Rattle, and Roll Grand Prize sponsored by Tommee Tippee! You will have the chance to win a Closer to Nature Audio Baby Monitor valued at $149.99! Visit Formula Mom to Enter the Shake, Rattle, and Roll Grand Prize Giveaway!! (US ONLY)

Grand Prize

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I am pleased to announce that I have two prize packs for my giveaway. Both are open to US/CAN. One is for Moms to Be and one is for Moms of Babes. You can enter for both if you want to! They are both over $100.

Oogaa (Silicone Baby Feeding Sets + More) – Sponsor Spotlight for #ShakeRattleWin

Oogaa has safe, silicone feeding products for babies. They are starting to carry more products such as clothing too. I will be doing a full review in June.

Benefits:

• Silicone will not grow mould or bacteria.
• Odorless, tasteless
• Microwave Safe
• Dishwasher Safe
• Heat resistant
• Freezer Safe
• BPA free
• Soft on gums
• fun colours and shapes

Where to Buy:

In the USA – At the Oogaa online shop or other online and offline retailers

In Canada – Sold Exclusively at Raspberry Kids

Also available in UK, Hong Kong and Australia

Find Oogaa on Facebook and Twitter

*Disclosure: I will be receiving the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Babee Covee and Babee Covee Budee–Sponsor Spotlight for #ShakeRattleWin

The Babee Covee is a 6-in-1 blanket and cover. Save money and space by using the Babee Covee in place of the following size items:

1. Infant Car Seat Cover
2. Nursing Cover
3. Shopping Cart Cover
4. High Chair Cover
5. Stroller Blanket
6. Playtime Blanket

Here is a little video that demonstrates it’s usefulness. If you don’t have a lot of time, skip to 1:47 to see all the uses, otherwise, enjoy the reminder of what’s it’s like trying to remember to bring everything you need for the baby with you.

They JUST came out with a new product too, the Babee Covee Budee.

The Budee is a 4-in-1 smaller blanket that can be used as:

1. Security Blanket
2. Pacifier/Toy Holder
3. Burp Cloth/Lap Pad
4. Tag-Along

You can find out more about how to use the Babee Covee products or purchase them at Babee Covee. Also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

You can win both the Babee Covee and the Babee Covee Budee during the Shake Rattle and Roll Giveaway Hop May 22-Jun 5 (see sidebar under current giveaways)

*Disclosure: This is a sponsor spotlight, not a review. I have not tried this product. No compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting - Sponsor Spotlight for #ShakeRattleWin

You may have heard that your favourite pregnancy book is being made in to a movie and it's out in theatres May 18.

When I was pregnant with my first child I followed along with What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff every step of the way. I checked certain parts again with babies #2 and #3.

Watch Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock and many others in this sure to be funny movie.

You can find all kind of information, interviews, photo galleries and more on the movie at the What to Expect website.

One Minute Trailer:

 

The movie comes at the same time that the book’s being released in it’s fourth edition.

Thomas Allen & Sons is sponsoring the upcoming Shake, Rattle and Roll Giveaway Hop with a copy of the fourth edition of What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff.

So come back May 22 to enter for that and other prizes!

*Disclosure: No compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My Baby Compass–Finally A “Manual” For Parents - Developmental Screening

Every parent wishes they had a manual for their baby or child, especially when they are so young they can’t talk and tell us what they are thinking or what’s wrong. 

There is no all encompassing manual but My Baby Compass comes close!

Every Parent Worries

Every parent also worries about their child. Is he learning new skills at the proper age? Should she be crawling yet? Why isn’t he walking? Talking and Motor Skills are the most common worries of parents from what I’ve seen, but sometimes other skills they should be learning are overlooked.
For those with children on the Autism spectrum, did you find that it was a shock or that you didn’t notice the behaviours? I’ve heard other parents of Autistic children say something similar, they just didn’t see it.

Test Your Knowledge

Do you know when a child should be able to indicate a need without crying (like pointing or getting an object)? When they start moving to music? When they will show off for attention? We don’t just have questions about babies either. When should  she be able to put together a four party toy (Mr. Potato Head/Legos) When can they identify four to five colours when asked?  When should your child understand simple time intervals (hour, half hour etc.) *answers at the end

About the Program

My Baby Compass helps with all of that. It is a program designed to screen your child (or other’s children if used by a doctor, day care worker or psychologist.) It doesn’t just tell you if your child is meeting the correct milestones though, it also tells you what to do if he is not and what activities to try to help her with those areas. It also includes lots of resources.

My Baby Compass comes in three books, each with  multiple booklets for on the go screening. You can buy just one book or you can buy all three in a kit.

Book One: Birth to Two Years
Book Two: Two to Four Years
Book Three: Four to Seven Years

Each book has lists based on age and skill type with spots for you to check off when it’s been accomplished and put a date (you can put a general date like 9 months or November 2011)

For example from Book One (Birth to Two Years) you will find:
Baby TALKS (Birth to 3 Months)
Baby HEARS (Birth to 3 Months)
Baby UNDERSTANDS (Birth to 3 Months)
Baby MOVES (Birth to 3 Months)
Baby FEELS (Birth to 3 Months)

Then the same 5 topics for the next age category (3-6 Months) right on up to 19-24 Months.

Book Two (Two to Four Years) and Book Three (Four to Seven Years) have the same 5 skills plus another section for TALKS IN PHRASES and are all separated into smaller age categories such as 24-30 months, 43-48 months, 4^1/2  to 5 years or 5-6 Years.

My Baby Compass is also a Parent Tested Parent Approved Award Winner.

Testing It Out

My second daughter will be 5 years old on Saturday, so I took out the book and turned to the 4^1/2  to 5 years section. (Keep in mind that you look at the section when your child is finished that age. So you check the 4^1/2 to 5 year section when your child is 5.) I was able to see that she has met most of the milestones just by looking. Some I had to think hard if she’d done it, and for some, I’ll have to keep my eye on her for the next little while to see.

• Begins to make the “th” (think, this) and “zh” (measure) sounds in words (Four Year Old TALKS)

This one was a relief because I was worried that she should be making the TH sound correctly by now but it looks as if she should be just starting to get it right. If I flip ahead, I see that while my child should be getting better at the TH sounds as she gets older, it’s possible not to have mastered it till age 8!

• Repeats the days of the week in sequence (Four Year Old HEARS)

I was surprised to see this one here as my six year old is just getting the hang of the days of the week. But it doesn’t mean my child is behind. If your child doesn’t go to school at 4 or you’ve never bothered to teach them, then they will not know it. However if you’ve done the suggested activities and tried to teach it and she is still not getting it, then you might start wondering. I’m not worried, my daughter is starting to get the hang of the days of the week and is showing interest in learning.

• Likes working on projects and may carryover an activity from day to day (Four Year Old FEELS)

My husband brought home scratch art kits and they work on it a little each day so she does this. Sometimes she is worried about finishing something she is doing and I remind her that she can work on it the next day.

I also checked my other children against the lists. Anything they weren’t doing yet or I wasn’t sure if they could, I will do the suggested activities for. If you look in the “My Child Did Not Meet a Milestone. Now What?” section is tells you not to panic, that checklists are based on statistics and your child may be close to meeting a milestone. It recommends you use the activities given to encourage your child to respond appropriately.

This is an amazing resource. If you are familiar with the Nippissing Screening checklists or other such checklists, I find My Baby Compass way better. Why? It includes skills not covered by other screening checklists and even in the speech section, doesn’t just include how many words they speak or understand and such but also what letter sounds they should be able to make and such. The resources alone make it worth the price.
Some of the Resources You’ll Find:

• Baby Info such as Feeding, Quality Time, Routines, How Babies Grow/Learn etc. (Book One)
• Communication Process: How Babies Learn to Talk, Listening/Speaking Style, When Baby Cries, Signing (All Books – slightly different in each)
• Age Appropriate Toys and Playtime Ideas (All Books)
• Music and Rhymes for Fun and Learning (All Books)
• Sign Language (All Books)
• Toddler Info such as Potty Training, Play, Tantrums, Discipline, Feeling Words (Book Two)
• Suggested Vocabulary: Basic Words, feeling words, different/same words, rhyming words etc. (Book Two)
• Book Suggestions (Book One/Two – small list, Book Three includes Books to help with language development and Books to help with sound development)
• Preschooler Info such as Preschool/School, Creative play, Bullying, Conflict, Discipline, Feelings, etc. (Book Three)
• Vocabulary and Phonological Awareness Appendix (Book Three)

Even if your child is already 6, I would recommend the third book because it has all kinds of information with regards to how children learn to read and ways to help them with the specific skills they will need. In fact I HIGHLY recommend this product to ALL parents and those who work with children. 

To Learn More or Buy My Baby Compass, check out the website. You can also find My Baby Compass on Facebook, Twitter or watch the video about it on YouTube.

*Answer to Test Your Knowledge
Indicates a need without crying (like pointing or getting an object) – 12 months
Moves to music – 6 months
Show off for attention – 18 Months
Puts together four part toy -  36 months/3 years
Identifies four to five colours when asked – 4^1/2 years
Understands simple time intervals – 7 years

My Baby Compass was my sponsor for Blogmania 2012

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Oh Canada, Baby! First Version of O Canada Performed by Babies! #OCanadaBaby #TeamCanada

I have some exciting and fun news to share!

Pampers has teamed up with Canadian Olympian (and new mother) Priscilla Lopes-Schliep to create a video of O Canada “sung” by only babies!

If that isn’t cool enough, my son Liam is in the first cut! We had a chance to submit some short clips of him making his usual baby sounds and it was used!

It’s very simple, just record a short video or two, upload it on the Pampers facebook page and you’re good to go!

Watch the first cut of the video here. My son Liam is at the 12 second mark at the top (holding the red cellphone!)

You can expect to see more individual cuts of the video on the facebook page and it will be showcased at public events across the country on Canada Day (July 1, 2012) The final “O Canada, baby” video will be revealed during the Olympic Games to cheer on Team Canada!

Also keep your eye out for Limited Edition “Go Canada Go!” Pampers Olympic Games packaging which will have 2x the Gifts to Grow points which of course you can redeem for prizes, including HBC Team Canada baby gear!

Now Go Videotape Your Baby!

Oh Canada, Baby! First Version of O Canada Performed by Babies! bit.ly/HrYSdR #OCanadaBaby #TeamCanada
— Kathleen Garber (@callista83) April 11, 2012

*Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to submit videos for the first cut and received a video camera and Team Canada baby gear to facilitate the video. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW: Fill in the Blankie - Personalized Baby Blankets

As a mom to a child with an unusual name I am on the lookout for things I can get personalized however I want since those premade items (toothbrushes, cups etc.) never come in her name.

Fill in the Blankie is a website that personalizes baby blankets, but not just with one name. You can have up to 200 characters, on all four sides of the blanket. ALSO they are not just regular blankets, but soft and warm blankies.

I was able to try out this product and since they are baby blanket, I had one done up for my son (and not my daughter with the uncommon name.) My son has quite a popular name, Liam. However as I said, the blanket doesn't just have his name on it. You can choose what you want on the blanket or use their suggestions to help you craft your product.

Using their prompts I came up with this:

Side 1: Liam [middle name] [last name] was born on March 29, 2011
Side 2: He weighed 9lbs 1oz and was 19 inches long
Side 3: His Mommy is Kathleen and his Daddy is Frank
Side 4: Sweet Dreams, Baby Liam

There are many styles of blanket to choose from, each rated on a cuddle factor, quality of material and construction, weight and size. Choose from Soren's Sleep Well ($39) to Pharoah's Finest ($145) After you pick a blanket style, you can enter your text, pick your thread colour and word font and even get glow in the dark thread for an additional $18. You can also add on gift wrap, a stuffed animal or a symbol for more money.

When the blanket comes, you will be SURPRISED at how soft it is. It is made well, has held together well and I just LOVE showing it off! It makes a GREAT present and you can purchase a gift certificate to give instead so if they don't know the information yet or you wan to allow them to pick what they want. It doesn't have to be for babies either, it would make a good present for a young child too.

Fill in the Blankie DOES ship internationally. You'll have to pick the blanket and extras you want and input your address too see shipping costs.


*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW: Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates: Four DVD Pregnancy Series

When you are pregnant or trying to conceive, you are excited about your (hopefully) impending baby. Often though we have a fear of gaining weight because we know it's not common to lose all of it after birth (except for celebrities!)


Jennifer Gianni's Fusion Pilates is a set of four DVDs for different parts of your journey from TTC to After Baby.

Triple Threat - Get in shape before your pregnancy.
Pilates for Pregnancy - Maintain strength and prepare for birth.
Post Pregnancy & C-Section Recovery - Get your pre-pregnant body back.
Exercise with Baby - Bond with your newborn and stay in shape.

I love the little saying on the cover of the DVD case:

"Become STRONG for pregnancy, PREPARE your body for labor. Bounce back QUICKLY after birth SAFE for mom & baby."

The DVDs come all together in one DVD case which is nice because often times DVD sets take up a lot of room on your shelf or don't fit in your DVD holder.

The workouts are not too intense and have a comforting feel to them. This isn't a drill sergeant workout, it's a fellow mom leading you in exercises. The one for exercising with baby includes your baby in the workout which is HARDER than it sounds. Laying on your back and lifting baby up is HARD WORK. Especially with the big babies I make.

Recommended for yourself or as a gift for a special someone who is expecting.


*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Click for Babies: Knit Baby Hats for Shaken Baby Syndrome + Period of P.U.R.P.L.E. Crying

Babies Cry.

We've figured out that much so far. Sometimes they seem to cry for no reason, as if  something is bothering them, but you can't figure out what.  Now I'll be honest and say that I've been blessed with babies who don't cry for long periods of time for seemingly no reason. When the first baby was easy, I figured the second HAD to be colicky. When the second was a bit more cranky but still not colicky, I thought for sure the third would have to be. When the third wasn't colicky either, boy was I surprised!

If you are expecting a child or just had a little one, you may have heard of The Period of P.U.R.P.L.E. Crying. If not, you might want to pay attention. I first heard of it in the hospital after having my third. They had us watch the video in hospital and I took a copy home. Let me show you:

Click On Image to See Larger

If you are concerned by the amount of your babies crying, are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted or are concerned your yet to be born child may be "colicky", you should check this out. You can find out more about crying babies at Period of P.U.R.P.L.E. Crying.

Attention Knitters! 

Click for Babies is helping to raise awareness for The Period of Purple Crying and Shaken Baby Syndrome by collecting knitted purple hats for newborns across North America to be distributed in November with information on a newborn's crying phase. The aim is to have a hat for every baby born in November at participating hospitals.

How to Join in Ontario
 Knit or crochet from 5 to 50 purple baby caps using soft baby friendly yarn and send them by mid-October to:

Southwest Ontario
Denise Polgar
Injury Prevention Specialist Trauma Program
London Health Sciences Centre/Children's Hospital
800 Commissioners Road East
Room E1-129
London, Ontario N6A 5W9

Click for Babies is a North American campaign with sites in BC, Utah, Kansas, Iowa and more. Hospital addresses are listed at http://www.clickforbabies.org/ (URL fixed 08/12/11)

REVIEW: Smart Mom Jewerly/Teething Bling

Liam playing with Bangle
(c) 2011 Kathleen Garber

I love this idea! How many babies grab on to your jewelry and try to chew on it? Now they can do that with special jewelry designed to be safe for babies to chew on, but still fashionable for mom.

I especially love the bangles. I'm not a big jewelry person but the bangles can safely be given to the baby as a toy as well. While the necklace is for mom to wear only and is not safe to just give to the baby on his or her own, the bangles are.

They are the right size for my 3 month old to grab onto and suck on and it wont fit over his head, or twist and catch his finger or hand.  It feels good on his gums and he likes to play with it.

Teething Bling Necklace

Although I'm not a big jewelry wearer, the necklaces are just the kind of jewelry I do wear occasionally. I'm not interested in chains or diamonds. I like cords and something simple. It's perfect for me.

The necklace has a breakaway clasp so that if by chance baby gets it wrapped around it's arm while playing with it (around your neck), the necklace should come apart so the baby's circulation isn't cut off.

I really love the idea of baby friendly jewelry.

I'd like to quote the FAQ for some important information you should know:

Teething Bling® is made from a commonly-used, medical-grade, food-safe silicone.  It's the same material found in many teething toys and other baby products, such as the 'coated' infant spoons we all use. 

Is it safe?
Yes. Teething Bling^® contains no harmful chemicals: no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex.  Our products are CPSIA compliant, carry the European CE mark for safety and are FDA approved.  Pendants also come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature. We remind users to never put a pendant ON a baby, and never leave your child unattended with jewelry of any kind. 

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Nursing in Public

(c) Flickr User Tim/Selena Middleton

Do you/have you ever nursed in public or are you a private nurser?

I pride myself on being able to nurse anywhere without showing everything to everyone and without covering up my baby either. I've practiced a lot and can nurse, often without anyone knowing what I'm doing. I thought I'd make a list up of the places in public I've ever nursed.

This is mostly for my curiosity but I hope it also encourages other nursing moms to try breastfeeding wherever they are, instead of hiding in a corner or worse, a bathroom to feed their baby. Practice at home in front of a mirror to see how much you are showing.

After you check out the list, let me know if you've nursed in public somewhere I haven't.

Places I've Nursed:

1. Front Porch
2. Back Porch
3. Park
4. McDonalds
5. Tim Hortons
6. Burger King
7. Highway Rest Stop
8. By the Side of the Road
9. On the front steps of a church
10. Inside a church
11. At a Girl Guide meeting
12. At Girl Guide Camp
13. At family camping
14. At playgroup (which is in a school)
15. Library
16. On the bus
17. At the bus stop
18. At the beach
19. At Jungle Cat World 
20. The Mall (thanks Canadian Coupon Mom for reminding me) 
21. In a pool (a few pools actually) (ADDED July 7)
22. ?? I'm sure I'm forgetting some

So have you nursed somewhere I haven't? Maybe you'll help me remember something I've forgotten. Leave a comment!

Brand New Baby Event - 3 Blogs for Parents with Little Ones

More and more nowadays when a person has a question, we google it. Using the internet to get answers to our problems can be very helpful, as long as you think about what you read and don't take what you read as the be all and end all of answers.

When reading advice on blogs, it's what worked for that one blogger. It may or may not work for you. However is usually doesn't hurt to give it a try.

Here are some blogs I know of that are perfect for parents with new babies.

Troublesome Tots blogs about sleep troubles you often encounter with babies and toddlers and how you can help them.

• 0-3 Month Sleep Guide
• Why Babies Love White Noise
• 5 Reasons to Swaddle Your Baby

Parenting and New Baby Advice Blog is by Baby Gifts and Gift Baskets and has many articles on babies.

• Baby Bath Time Safety Tips
• Choosing a Name for the New Grandmother
• Baby Crib Safety

Best for Babes is THE breastfeeding resource, way better than any other I've seen. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It's sort of a cross between a website and blog.

Vitamin D and Breastmilk... What's a babe to do?
Did Your Mom Breastfeed?
Help! I Don't Want to Breastfeed

Sponsor Spotlight: Smart Mom Jewelry/Teething Bling

Smart Mom Jewelry presents Teething Bling, the original jewelry for mom that is SAFE for babies to mouth. Their pendants and bangles are specially designed to be safe for babies to chew on while being held.

• They are made from the same silicone that coated baby spoons are made out of. It's food grade so it's safe to put in the mouth.
• The cords on the necklaces are made from nylon and have a breakaway clasp.
• The jewelry is designed for babies with erupting teeth

Allow me to quote them on the safety:

Is it safe?
Yes. Teething Bling^® contains no harmful chemicals: no phthalates, BPAs, PVCs, lead or latex.  Our products are CPSIA compliant, carry the European CE mark for safety and are FDA approved.  Pendants also come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature. We remind users to never put a pendant ON a baby, and never leave your child unattended with jewelry of any kind.  - Smart Mom Jewelry

The company also sells the Baby Magnet Tie (a tie for dad with a squeaker and a rattle in it) so they can get in on bling too! You'll also find some Tween Bling and shirts for mom and babe.

Read about the moms behind Teething Bling and see what charities they donate to. 

 Connect With Smart Mom Jewelry:

On Facebook On Twitter

 

I will be doing a review and giveaway of a product from Teething Bling soon. Comment on this post  to earn an extra 2 entries into the giveaway. The giveaway will be open worldwide and you can say whatever you want. Be sure to actually enter the giveaway when it's up though or your comment won't count.

Stylish Baby Bedding for Your Nursery from Baby Bedding Zone

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.

An important part of putting together your new baby's nursery is deciding on the bedding. You'll want to pick something that will work in the room and that everyone in the family is comfortable with. Baby bedding doesn't have to be little yellow duckies or baby booties. You can get something as stylish as the rest of your home, that will work well into at least toddlerhood, on the toddler bed.

Baby Bedding Zone offers hundreds of themes and styles of baby, toddler and children's bedding. From simple stripes or gingham to themed sets such as elephant baby bedding, fairy baby bedding, dinosaur crib bedding, sports baby bedding, zebra crib bedding and garden baby bedding.

You can search for bedding by colour, style (e.g. modern, vintage, simple), gender, theme, even material (e.g. Cotton, Chenille or Silk.) You can find neutral bedding too of course. The sets seem to come with four or nine items plus there are other matching items you can purchase with it (such as art for the wall, laundry hamper, light shade or wallpaper border.)

The website is very easy to navigate and they also sell bedroom decor such as clocks, hampers, valances, picture frames or storage bins. They also sell diaper bags, designer receiving blankets and baby gifts such as pacifier clips, nursing covers and much more.

Also you don't have to buy everything in a set. You can always purchase just the crib sheet or the crib sheet, blanket and bed skirt. Or any combination thereof. If you want it all however, purchase a 9 piece set plus all the extras.

Baby Bedding Zone offers free shipping on orders over $99, Worldwide shipping, a 110% Price Match, 365 Day Returns and Live Online Customer Support. Check out the Customer Service page for details but let me share what the 110% Price Match means. I've not seen this anywhere else:

"We will meet and beat ANY online advertised price for any product we sell by 10% of the difference! Baby Bedding Zone will not be undersold! In the event that you find a lower price from another online store on a currently in-stock product we carry, we will beat it by 10% of the difference." - from Customer Service Page

Let me just say the sets are beautiful. I love how everything matches and I'd love to have one of these sets in my new baby's room. The prices may seem a bit high to those like me who are low income but if you have money to spend on the baby's room, these bedding sets seem well worth the price. You can find bedding to suit whatever theme you are going for with the room.